A short proof of L\'{e}vy's continuity theorem without using tightness

Abstract

In this note we present a new short and direct proof of L\'{e}vy's continuity theorem in arbitrary dimension $d$, which does not rely on Prohorov's theorem, Helly's selection theorem or the uniqueness theorem for characteristic functions. Instead, it is based on convolution with a small (scalar) Gaussian distribution as well as on basic facts about weak convergence and measure theory. Moreover, we show how, by similar means, one may prove the fact that a distribution with integrable characteristic function is absolutely continuous with respect to $d$-dimensional Lebesgue measure and derive the formula for its density.