Factorization of Hardy spaces and Hankel operators on convex domains in \(\mathbb C^ n\). (Q1608497)

Let \(\Omega\) be a smoothly bounded convex domain of finite type in \(\mathbb{C}^n\), \(H^2(\Omega)\) the Hardy space on \(\Omega\), and \(P_S\) the Szegö projection. For \(b\in H^2(\Omega)\), the (small) Hankel operator \(h_b\) on \(H^2(\Omega)\) is defined by \(h_b f:=P_S(b\overline f)\). The authors show that, in~full analogy with the classical results for the unit disc, \(h_b\) is bounded if and only if \(b\) is in the space BMO, if the latter is defined using the quasi-distance of \textit{J. D. McNeal} and \textit{E. M. Stein} [Math. Z. 224, 519--553 (1997; Zbl 0948.32004)]. Similarly, \(h_b\) is compact if and only if \(b\) is in the corresponding \(VMO\), and \(h_b\) belongs to the Schatten \(p\)-class (\(0<p<\infty\)) if and only if \(b\) belongs to the appropriate Besov space~\(\mathcal B_p\). The main tools are the weak factorization of functions in the Hardy space \(H^1(\Omega)\) (any such function \(f\) can be written as \(\sum_i F_i G_i\) with \(F_i,G_i\in H^2\) and \(\sum_i \| F_i\| \| G_i\| \leq c \| f\| \)), and the atomic decomposition of Besov spaces. Similar results are shown to hold also for small Hankel operators on the Bergman (instead of Hardy) space of \(\Omega\). For smoothly bounded strictly pseudoconvex domains, analogous assertions have been proved by \textit{St. G. Krantz} and \textit{S.-Y. Li} [J. Fourier Anal. Appl. 2, 65--107 (1995; Zbl 0886.32003)] and in an earlier paper by the present authors [Mich. Math. J. 46, 225--250 (1999; Zbl 0987.47018)]; in comparison with these papers, in the present treatment many technicalities seem to be a good deal simplified.