Means of Hilbert space operators (Q1406604)

The authors introduce and study means for pairs of Hilbert space operators by using the following definition: Let \(M(s,t)\) be a continuous positive real function of the two real positive variables \(s,t> 0\) with the properties: (1) \(M(s,t)= M(t,s)\); (2) \(M(rs,rt)= rM(s,t)\); (3) \(M(s,t)\) is nondecreasing in \(s, t\); (4) \(\min\{s, t\}\leq M(s,t)\leq\max\{s, t\}\). Let now \(H\), \(K\) be two bounded positive Hilbert space operators with spectral measures \(E_s\), \(F_t\) correspondingly. The mean of \(H\) and \(K\) is defined to be the double operator transformation \[ M(H, K)X= \int^{\| H\|}_0 \int^{\| K\|}_0 M(s, t)\,dE_s X\,dE_t. \] The double operator integrals are defined according to the construction developed by \textit{M. Sh. Birman} and \textit{M. Z. Solomyak} [Sov. Math. Dokl. 6, 1567--1571 (1965); translation from Dokl. Akad. Nauk SSSR 165, 1223--1226 (1965; Zbl 0143.36803)]. The book systematically studies the properties of operator means and makes strong connections to Schur multipliers for matrices and operator inequalities. A lot of attention is paid to the problem of determining for which unitarily invariant norm the transformation \(X\to M(H, K)X\) is bounded. As the authors point out, their theory is built upon the important work of \textit{V. V. Peller} on Schur multipliers and Hankel operators [Funct. Anal. Appl. 19, 111--123 (1985); translation from Funkts. Anal. Prilozh. 19, No. 2, 37-51 (1985; Zbl 0587.47016); see also the recent book, ``Hankel operators and their applications'' (Springer Monographs in Mathematics, Springer Verlag, New York) (2003; Zbl 1030.47002)]. Throughout the present book, the authors prove a number of interesting results and provide good examples. Among the topics covered are Heinz-type means related to Heinz-type inequalities and binomial means. A valuable feature of the book is the presence of several carefully worked technical results (proofs, integral representations, Fourier transforms). Each chapter is accompanied by informative notes and comments. It should be noted that the operator mean defined and studied in this book is quite different from the operator mean introduced by \textit{F. Kubo} and \textit{T. Ando} in their fundamental paper [Math. Ann. 246, 205--224 (1980; Zbl 0412.47013)]. The Kubo-Ando operator mean is characterized by operator monotone functions on the positive real line.