Functions of almost commuting operators and an extension of the Helton-Howe trace formula (Q329691): Difference between revisions

Let \(A\) and \(B\) be bounded self-adjoint operators on a Hilbert space \(\mathcal{H}\) such that \([ A,B]=AB-BA\) is a trace class operator. Using the theory of double operator integrals, one can define a functional calculus \(\mathrm{B}^{1}_{\infty,1}\!(\mathbb{R}^{2})\to \mathcal{B}(\mathcal{H})\), \(\varphi\mapsto \varphi(A,B)\). This calculus is linear in \(\varphi\), but in general not multiplicative. In the article under review, it is shown that the calculus is almost multiplicative, in the sense that \([ \varphi(A,B),\psi(A,B)]\) is a trace class operator for all \(\varphi,\psi\in \mathrm{B}^{1}_{\infty,1}\!(\mathbb{R}^{2})\). Furthermore, a formula from [\textit{J. W. Helton} and \textit{R. E. Howe}, Lect. Notes Math. 345, 141--209 (1973; Zbl 0268.47054)] for the trace of \(\mathrm{i}[ \varphi(A,B),\psi(A,B)]\) is extended to all \(\varphi,\psi\in \mathrm{B}^{1}_{\infty,1}\!(\mathbb{R}^{2})\). To prove that the calculus in question is almost multiplicative, the authors use triple operator integrals with integrands in Haagerup-like tensor products. In fact, \([ \varphi(A,B),\psi(A,B)]\) is expressed as a triple operator integral involving the divided differences of \(\varphi\) and \(\psi\) and the spectral measures of \(A\) and \(B\). The divided differences of \(\varphi,\psi\in \mathrm{B}^{1}_{\infty,1}\!(\mathbb{R}^{2})\) are elements of Haagerup-like tensor products, and a trace class estimate for \([ \varphi(A,B),\psi(A,B)]\) then follows from properties of these tensor products.