Birkhoff's theorem and multidimensional numerical range

We show that, under certain conditions, Birkhoff's theorem on doubly stochastic matrices remains valid for countable families of discrete probability spaces which have nonempty intersections. Using this result, we study the relation between the spectrum of a self-adjoint operator A and its multidimensional numerical range. It turns out that the multidimensional numerical range is a convex set whose extreme points are sequences of eigenvalues of the operator A. Every collection of eigenvalues which can be obtained by the Rayleigh-Ritz formula generates an extreme point of the multidimensional numerical range. However, it may also have other extreme points. (c) 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.