The Calderón problem for Hilbert couples (Q1774807): Difference between revisions

The aim of the present paper is to characterize all exact interpolation spaces \(\mathcal A\) and \(\mathcal B\) with respect to arbitrary Hilbert couples \(\overline {\mathcal H}\) and \(\overline {\mathcal K}\). It is well-known [cf. the author, ``Interpolation of Hilbert spaces'', (Ph.D. Thesis, Uppsala) (2001) or \textit{G. Sparr}, Stud. Math. 62, 229--271 (1978; Zbl 0393.46029)] that \(\mathcal A\) and \(\mathcal B\) are exact interpolation spaces provided that they are \(K\)-monotone. In general, these two properties are not the same. However, if \(\mathcal A\) and \(\mathcal B\) are exact interpolation spaces with respect to regular Hilbert couples \(\overline {\mathcal H}\) and \(\overline {\mathcal K}\), then they are \(\sqrt 2-K\)-monotone [cf. the author, loc. cit.]. The author proves that there is the following improvement of these results: Spaces \(\mathcal A\) and \(\mathcal B\) are exact interpolation spaces with respect to regular Hilbert couples \(\overline {\mathcal H}\) and \(\overline {\mathcal K}\) if and only if \(\mathcal A\) and \(\mathcal B\) are exact \(K\)-monotone. (In other words, regular Hilbert couples are Calderón couples). This result is a consequence of the following assertion: Let \(\overline {\mathcal H}\) and \(\overline {\mathcal K}\) be regular Hilbert couples. Let \(f \in \mathcal H_0 + \mathcal H_1\) and \(g \in \mathcal K_0 + \mathcal K_1\) be such that \(K (t, g; \overline {\mathcal K}) \leq \rho^{-1} K (t, f; \overline {\mathcal H}), t > 0\), for some \(\rho > 1\). Then there exists a~linear operator \(T\: \overline {\mathcal H} \to \overline {\mathcal K}\), \(\| T\| _{\overline {\mathcal H} \to \overline {\mathcal K}} \leq 1\), satisfying \(T f = g\). To prove this assertion, the author reduces the problem to the diagonal case when \(\overline {\mathcal H} = \overline {\mathcal K}\) and then to the finite-dimensional case. Another important step in the proof is the fact that the quasi-order defined by the Peetre \(K\)-functional coincides with the quasi-order defined by the \(K_2\)-functional. Since the \(K_2\)-functional of the regular Hilbert couple can be conveniently calculated, this enables the author to construct the operator \(T\) mentioned above. In the finite-dimensional case, the author makes use of the result to give a short proof of Donoghue's theorem on interpolation functions and a new proof of Löwner's theorem on monotone matrix functions.