Coupling and relaxed commutant lifting (Q2494133)

The relaxed commutant lifting theorem proposed by \textit{C.~Foias, A.~E.\ Frazho} and \textit{M.~A.\ Kaashoek} in [Integral Equations Oper.\ Theory 42, No.~3, 253--310 (2002; Zbl 1060.47021)] states that, for any given Hilbert space operators \(A\) (a contraction acting between \(\mathcal H\) and \({\mathcal H}'\)), \(T'\) (on \({\mathcal H}'\)), \(R,\;Q\) (from \({\mathcal H}_0\) to \(\mathcal H\)) satisfying the constraints \(T'AR=AQ\) and \(R^*R\leq Q^*Q\), there exists a contraction \(B\) from \(\mathcal H\) to \({\mathcal K}'\) such that \(\Pi_{{\mathcal H}'}B=A\) and \(U'BR=BQ\) (here, \(\Pi_{{\mathcal H}'}\) denotes the orthogonal projection of \({\mathcal K}'\) onto \({\mathcal H}'\); \(U'\) on \({\mathcal K}'\) is the minimal isometric lifting of \(T'\)). In the paper under review, a Redheffer type formula is presented in order to describe the set of all contractive interpolants \(B\) (mentioned above) for the lifting data set \(\{A,T',U',R,Q\}\). The method is based on the theory of isometric couplings (which originates from \textit{V.~M.\ Adamyan} and \textit{D.~Z.\ Arov} [Sov.\ Math., Dokl.\ 6, 1377--1380 (1965); translation from Докл.\ Акад.\ Наук СССР 165, 9--12 (1965; Zbl 0149.10204) and Am.\ Math.\ Soc., Translat., II.~Ser.\ 95, 75--129 (1970); translation from Мат.\ Исслед.\ 1, No.~2, 3--64 (1966; Zbl 0258.47012)]) and provides a parametrization in terms of a special set of Schur class functions. If \(\overline{D_AQ{\mathcal H}_0}={\mathcal D}_A\) or \(\overline{\left[{D_0\atop D_AR}\right]{\mathcal H}_0}={\mathcal D}_0\oplus{\mathcal D}_A\) (notations \(D_0:=(Q^*Q-R^*R)^{1/2},\;{\mathcal D}_0:=\overline{D_0{\mathcal H}_0},\;D_A:=(I-A^*A)^{1/2}\) and \({\mathcal D}_A:=\overline{D_A{\mathcal H}}\) are used), the authors prove that this parametrization is proper (i.e., it provides a one-to-one correspondence between the set of all contractive interpolants and the set of parameters in the Schur class). In particular, the classical commutant lifting formula (obtained when \({\mathcal H}_0={\mathcal H},\;R=I_{\mathcal H}\) and \(Q\) is an isometry; cf.\ Section XIV of [\textit{C.~Foias} and \textit{A.~E.\ Frazho}, ``The commutant lifting approach to interpolation problems'' (Operator Theory: Advances and Applications 44, Birkhäuser, Basel etc.) (1990; Zbl 0718.47010)]) gives a proper parametrization. Some sufficient conditions which ensure only one solution \(B\) of the relaxed commutant lifting problem are finally given. \textit{W.~S.\ Li} and \textit{D.~Timotin} [Integral Equations Oper.\ Theory 54, No.~1, 97--111 (2006; Zbl 1108.47019), reviewed below] also used the coupling method in order to describe the set of all contractive solutions to the relaxed commutant lifting problem. The two papers are complementary and provide a complete study on the subject.