Absolute continuity, interpolation and the Lyapunov order (Q421096)

Theorem 1.1 of this paper is a multidimensional version of the classical theorem of Nevanlinna and Pick. Sz.-Nagy and Foias have shown that the proper domain for their \(H^{\infty}\)-functional calculus is the collection of all absolutely continuous contractions. One way to say that a contraction \(T\) is absolutely continuous is to say that when \(T\) is decomposed as \(T = T_{\mathrm{cnu}} + U\), where \(T_{\mathrm{cnu}}\) is completely non-unitary and \(U\) is unitary, then the spectral measure of \(U\) is absolutely continuous with respect to Lebesgue measure on the circle. The content of Theorems III.2.1 and III.2.3 of [\textit{B. Sz. -Nagy} et al., Harmonic analysis of operators on Hilbert space. 2nd revised and enlarged ed. Universitext. New York, NY: Springer (2010; Zbl 1234.47001)] is that a contraction \(T\) is absolutely continuous if and only if the \(H^{\infty}(T)\)-functional calculus may be evaluated on \(T\). It is therefore of interest to modify the hypothesis of Theorem 1.1 and ask for conditions that allow one to interpolate in the wider context where the variables are assumed to be merely absolutely continuous contractions. For this case the authors give an extension of Theorem 1.1. The technology they use to prove this extension works in the more general context of Hardy algebras over \(W*\)-correspondences. The authors extend their Nevanlinna-Pick theorem for Hardy algebras and their representations to cover interpolation at the absolutely continuous points of the boundaries of their discs of representations. The Lyapunov order plays a crucial role in their analysis.