Abstract: | In this paper we will first prove that the nontrivial Lp solutions of the vector refinement equation exist if and only if the corresponding subdivision scheme with a suitable initial function converges in Lp without assumption of the stability of the solutions. Then we obtain a characterization of the convergence of the subdivision scheme in terms of the mask. This gives a complete answer to the existence of Lp solutions of the refinement equation and the convergence of the corresponding subdivision schemes. |