The Reduced Minimum Modulus in <Emphasis>C</Emphasis><Superscript>*</Superscript>-Algebras

We define the reduced minimum modulus of a nonzero element a in a unital C ^*-algebra by . We prove that . Applying this result to and its closed two side ideal , we get that dist , and for any if RR = 0, where and is the quotient homomorphism and . These results generalize corresponding results in Hilbert spaces.     

Parametrization of Contractive Block Operator Matrices and Passive Discrete-Time Systems

Passive linear systems τ = have their transfer function in the Schur class S . Using a parametrization of contractive block operators the transfer function is connected to the Sz.-Nagy–Foiaş characteristic function of the contraction A. This gives a new aspect and some explicit formulas for studying the interplay between the system τ and the functions and . The method leads to some new results for linear passive discrete-time systems. Also new proofs for some known facts in the theory of these systems are obtained. Dedicated to Eduard Tsekanovskiĭ on the occasion of his seventieth birthday This work was supported by the Research Institute for Technology at the University of Vaasa. The first author was also supported by the Academy of Finland (projects 212146, 117617) and the Dutch Organization for Scientific Research N.W.O. (B 61-553). Received: December 22, 2006. Revised: February 6, 2007.     

Schur Complements in Krein Spaces

The aim of this work is to generalize the notions of Schur complements and shorted operators to Krein spaces. Given a (bounded) J-selfadjoint operator A (with the unique factorization property) acting on a Krein space and a suitable closed subspace of , the Schur complement of A to is defined. The basic properties of are developed and different characterizations are given, most of them resembling those of the shorted of (bounded) positive operators on a Hilbert space. To the memory of Professor Mischa Cotlar     

Tolokonnikov’s Lemma for Real H ∞ and the Real Disc Algebra

We prove Tolokonnikov’s Lemma and the inner-outer factorization for the real Hardy space , the space of bounded holomorphic (possibly operator-valued) functions on the unit disc all of whose matrix-entries (with respect to fixed orthonormal bases) are functions having real Fourier coefficients, or equivalently, each matrix entry f satisfies for all z ∈ . Tolokonnikov’s Lemma for means that if f is left-invertible, then f can be completed to an isomorphism; that is, there exists an F, invertible in , such that F = [ f f _c ] for some f _c in . In control theory, Tolokonnikov’s Lemma implies that if a function has a right coprime factorization over , then it has a doubly coprime factorization in . We prove the lemma for the real disc algebra as well. In particular, and are Hermite rings. The work of the first author was supported by Magnus Ehrnrooth Foundation. Received: December 5, 2006. Revised: February 4, 2007.     

On a Poincaré-type Inequality for Energy Forms in L p

We consider Dirichlet spaces ( ) in L ² and more general energy forms in L ^p , . For the latter we introduce the notions of an extended ’Dirichlet’ space and a transient form. Under the assumption that , resp. , are compactly embedded in L ², resp. L ^p , we prove a Poincaré inequality for transient (Dirichlet) forms. If both and its adjoint are sub-Markovian semigroups, we show that the transience of T _t is independent of ) and that it is implied by the transience of the energy form of and the form belonging to .     

Minimal faithful representations of reductive Lie algebras

Let G and H be Lie groups with Lie algebras and . Let G be connected. We prove that a Lie algebra homomorphism is exact if and only if it is completely positive. The main resource is a corresponding theorem about representations on Hilbert spaces. This article summarizes the main results of [1]. Received: 6 December 2005     

Characterization of Amalgamated Free Blocks of a Graph von Neumann Algebra

We identify two noncommutative structures naturally associated with countable directed graphs. They are formulated in the language of operators on Hilbert spaces. If G is a countable directed graphs with its vertex set V(G) and its edge set E(G), then we associate partial isometries to the edges in E(G) and projections to the vertices in V(G). We construct a corresponding von Neumann algebra as a groupoid crossed product algebra of an arbitrary fixed von Neumann algebra M and the graph groupoid induced by G, via a graph-representation (or a groupoid action) α. Graph groupoids are well-determined (categorial) groupoids. The graph groupoid of G has its binary operation, called admissibility. This has concrete local parts , for all e ∈ E(G). We characterize of , induced by the local parts of , for all e ∈ E(G). We then characterize all amalgamated free blocks of . They are chracterized by well-known von Neumann algebras: the classical group crossed product algebras , and certain subalgebras (M) of operator-valued matricial algebra . This shows that graph von Neumann algebras identify the key properties of graph groupoids. Received: December 20, 2006. Revised: March 07, 2007. Accepted: March 13, 2007.     

Properties of Auto- and Antiautomorphisms of Maximal Chain Structures and their Relations to i-Perspectivities

Let E be a non empty set, let P : = E × E, := {x × E|x ∈ E}, := {E × x|x ∈ E}, and := {C ∈ 2 ^P |∀X ∈ : |C ∩ X| = 1} and let . Then the quadruple resp. is called chain structure resp. maximal chain structure. We consider the maximal chain structure as an envelope of the chain structure . Particular chain structures are webs, 2-structures, (coordinatized) affine planes, hyperbola structures or Minkowski planes. Here we study in detail the groups of automorphisms , , , related to a maximal chain structure . The set of all chains can be turned in a group such that the subgroup of generated by the left-, by the right-translations and by ι the inverse map of is isomorphic to (cf. (2.14)).     

On the Schwarz reflection principle for monogenic functions

Let ∑ be either an oriented hyperplane or the unit sphere in , let be open and connected and let be an open and connected domain in such that . If in is a null solution of the Dirac operator (also called a monogenic function in ) which is continuously extendable to , then conditions upon are given enabling the monogenic extension of across . In such a way Schwarz reflection type principles for monogenic functions are established in the Spin (1) and Spin cases. The Spin (1) case includes the classical Schwarz reflection principle for holomorphic functions in the plane. The Spin case deals with so-called “half boundary value problems” for the Dirac operator. Received: 2 February 2006     

A singular Moser-Trudinger embedding and its applications

Let Ω be a bounded domain in , we prove the singular Moser-Trudinger embedding: if and only if where and . We will also study the corresponding critical exponent problem.