Dilations and commutant lifting for jointly isometric operators -- a geometric approach (Q1923961)

Let \(H\) be a Hilbert space and \(T= \{T_i\}\) be a system of commuting contractions on \(H\). \(T\) is called a joint isometry if \(\Sigma_iT^*_i T_i=I\). The authors give a geometric proof that joint isometries have a regular unitary dilation and that its commutant lifts. This result, in case of finite systems, follows from Athavale's results [\textit{A. Athavale} and \textit{S. Pedersen}, J. Math. Anal. Appl. 146, No. 2, 434-441 (1990; Zbl 0699.47014)]. The authors' approach is purely geometric and it holds for infinite systems. They show that \(T\) is subnormal and that its minimal normal extension is also joint isometric. Some examples are given.