The core operator and congruent submodules (Q2577507)

Let \(\mathbb{D}^2\) denote the bidisk. The Hardy space \(H^2(\mathbb{D}^2)\) can be conveniently viewed as a module over the polynomial ring \(C[z_1,z_2]\). Submodules of the Hardy space have connections with many areas of study in operator theory. A large amount of research has been carried out striving to understand the structure of submodules under certain equivalence relations. Unitary equivalence is a well-known equivalence relation in set of submodules. However, it was discovered that the unitary equivalence is extremely sensitive to perturbations of zero sets and lacks the flexibility one might need for a classification of submodules. In this paper, the author suggests an alternative equivalence relation, namely congruence. The idea is motivated by a symmetry and stability property which the core operator possesses. The congruence relation effectively classifies the submodules with a finite rank core operator. The author also points out an essential connection of the core operator with operator model theory.