On the spectra of finite-dimensional perturbations of matrix multiplication operators

Let be a closed rectifiable curve and a region in the complex plane. Suppose for each , R() represents multiplication by an nxn-matrix of rational functions and F() is a finite rank operator, both acting on the Hilbert space L ₂ ⁿ (). Sufficient conditions are given for the integer valued function dim ker (R()+F()) to be continuous at all but finitely many points in . This result is applied to singular integral operators.This work was partially supported by the National Science Foundation.