Minimal Factorization Of Matrix And Operator Functions

This book delineates the various types of factorization problems for matrix and operator functions. The problems originate from, or are motivated by, the theory of non-selfadjoint operators, the theory of matrix polynomials, mathematical systems and control theory, the theory of Riccati equations, inversion of convolution operators, and the theory of job scheduling in operations research. The book presents a geometric principle of factorization which has its origins in the state space theory of linear input-output systems and in the theory of characteristic operator functions.

This book delineates the various types of factorization problems for matrix and operator functions. The problems originate from, or are motivated by, the theory of non-selfadjoint operators, the theory of matrix polynomials, mathematical systems and control theory, the theory of Riccati equations, inversion of convolution operators, and the theory of job scheduling in operations research. The book presents a geometric principle of factorization which has its origins in the state space theory of linear input-output systems and in the theory of characteristic operator functions.

The present book deals with canonical factorization of matrix and operator functions that appear in state space form or that can be transformed into such a form. A unified geometric approach is used. The main results are all expressed explicitly in terms of matrices or operators, which are parameters of the state space representation. The applications concern different classes of convolution equations. A large part the book deals with rational matrix functions only.

A few years aga the authors started a project of a book on the theory of systems of one-dimensional singular integral equa tions which was planned as a continuation of the monograph by one of the authors and N. Ya. Krupnik ~~ concerning scalar equa tions. This set of notes was initiated as a chapter dealing with problems of factorization of matrix functions vis-a-vis appli cations to systems of singular integral equations. Working systematically onthischapter and adding along the way new points of view, new proofs and results, we finally saw that the material connected with factorizations is of independent interest and we decided to publish this chapter as aseparate volume. In fact, because of recent activity, the amount of material was quite large and we quickly learned that we cannot cover all of the results in complete detail. We have tried to include a represen tative variety of all kinds of methods, techniques,results and applications. Apart of the current work exposes results from the Russian literature which have never appeared in English translation. We have also decided to reflect some of the recent results which make interesting connections between factorization of matrix functions and systems theory. The field remains very active and many results and connec tions are still not weIl understood. These notes should be viewed as a stepping stone to further development. The authors hope that sometime they will return to complete their original plan.

In the modern study of Hilbert space operators there has been an increasingly subtle involvement with analytic function theory. This is evident in the analysis of subnormal operators, Toeplitz operators and Hankel operators, for example. On the other hand the operator theoretic viewpoint of interpolation by analytic functions is a powerful one. There has been significant activity in recent years, within these enriching interactions, and the time seemed right for an overview ot the main lines of development. The Advanced Study Institute 'Operators and Function Theory' in Lancaster, 1984, was devoted to this, and this book contains ex panded versions (and one contraction) of the main lecture prog ramme. These varied articles, by prominent researchers, include, for example, a survey of recent results on subnormal operators, recent work of Soviet mathematicians on Hankel and Toeplitz operators, expositions of the decomposition theory and inter polation theory for Bergman, Besov and Bloch spaces, with applic ations for special operators, the Krein space approach to inter polation problems, •• and much more. It is hoped that these proceedings will bring all this lively mathematics to a wider audience. Sincere thanks are due to the Scientific Committee of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation for the generous support that made the institute possible, and to the London Mathematical Society and the British Council for important additional support. Warm thanks also go to Barry Johnson and the L.M.S. for early guidance, and to my colleague Graham Jameson for much organisational support.