Spectral theory of Volterra-composition operators (Q1006378)

Let \(\phi\) be a Lebesgue measurable self-map of the interval \([0,1]\). The Volterra composition operator \(V_{\phi}\) on \(L^{p}[0,1]\), \(1\leq p\leq \infty\), is defined by \((V_{\phi}f)(x)=\int_{0}^{\phi(x)}f(t)\,dt\). The authors present a proof of the fact that \(V_{\phi}\) is quasinilpotent if and only if \(\phi(x)\leq x\). (The proof is shorter than the one which was given independently by \textit{R.\,Whitley} [Integral Equations Oper.\ Theory 10, 146--149 (1987; Zbl 0622.47029)] and \textit{Y.--S.\thinspace Tong} [Acta Math.\ Sin.\ 32, No.\,6, 727--735 (1989; Zbl 0701.47031)]). The authors' proof is based on Mercer's theorem and Lidskii's theorem about traces of nuclear operators. In the case when \(\phi(x)>x\) on a set of positive Lebesgue measure, the authors study the eigenfunctions of \(V_{\phi}\). For a deeper study of the spectral properties of \(V_{\phi}\), they compute and use an entire function \(F^{\phi}\) which is a product of a zero-free function and the Fredholm denominator of \(V_{\phi}\). They prove that, under suitable hypotheses on the symbols, the eigenfunctions of \(V_{\phi}\) are analytic. They also provide some examples of symbols \(\phi\) in which they can exhibit explicitly the eigenvalues and eigenfunctions of \(V_{\phi}\). [Editor's remark: Similar results can be found in \textit{I.\,Yu.\ Domanov}, Banach Center Publications 75, 137--142 (2007; Zbl 1122.47041); Stud.\ Math.\ 185, No.\,1, 49--65 (2008; Zbl 1156.47034).]