TITLE: Adjoint operator, bijective
QUESTION [6 upvotes]: Let $A\in\mathcal{L}(X,Y)$, where $X,Y$ are normed vector spaces. Define the adjoint operator
$$\begin{array}{ll}
A^{\prime}\ : & Y^{\prime}\rightarrow X^{\prime},\\
 & G \mapsto A^{\prime}(G)\ =\ G\circ A.
\end{array}$$
Its easy to show that $A^{\prime}\in\mathcal{L}(Y^{\prime}, X^{\prime})$ and $\|A\| = \|A^{\prime}\|$.
Now, suppose that $A$ is bijective, then show that $A^{\prime}$ is also bijective.

First at all, I have proven that $[\mbox{Im}(A)]^{\circ} = \mbox{Ker}(A^{\prime})$, and then $\mbox{Ker}(A^{\prime}) = \{O\}$. Therefore $A^{\prime}$ is injective. My problem is that I don't know how I can show that $A^{\prime}$ is onto.
Please I need help.
Thanks in advance.

REPLY [3 votes]: This is not true in general. Let $1<p<q<\infty$. Consider bijective bounded linear operator
$$
I:(\ell_p,\Vert\cdot\Vert_p)\to(\ell_p,\Vert\cdot\Vert_q):x\mapsto x
$$
which is set theoretic identity. Its adjoint is
$$
I^*:(\ell_p,\Vert\cdot\Vert_q)^*\to(\ell_p,\Vert\cdot\Vert_p)^*:f\mapsto f\circ I
$$
Assume it is bijective. Since dual spaces are always complete, then $I^*$ is a bijection between Banach spaces. By open mapping theorem $I^*$ is an isomorphism.
Note that
$$
(\ell_p,\Vert\cdot\Vert_p)^*\cong(\ell_q,\Vert\cdot\Vert_q)
$$
$$
(\ell_p,\Vert\cdot\Vert_q)^*
\cong\left(\operatorname{completion}(\ell_p,\Vert\cdot\Vert_q)\right)^*
\cong(\ell_q,\Vert\cdot\Vert_q)^*
\cong(\ell_p,\Vert\cdot\Vert_p)
$$
so using that $I^*$ is an isomorphism we see that $(\ell_p,\Vert\cdot\Vert_p)$ and $(\ell_q,\Vert\cdot\Vert_q)$ are isomorphic via some operator $J$. But this is impossible, so we get a contradiction. Thus $I^*$ is not bijective, though  $I$ is bijective.
On the other hand, if you assume that $X$ and $Y$ are Banach spaces then you have an equivalence
$$
A\text{ is bijective}\Longleftrightarrow A'\text{ is bijective}
$$ 
For proof see this and this answers.