Boundary relations and generalized resolvents of symmetric operators (Q1033818)

The Krein-Naimark formula provides a parametrization of all selfadjoint exit space extensions of a symmetric operator (not necessarily densely defined) in terms of the Nevanlinna families, maximal dissipative holomorphic linear relations on the parameter space [\textit{H.\,Langer} and \textit{B.\,Textorius}, Pac.\ J.\ Math.\ 72, 135--165 (1977; Zbl 0335.47014)]. Under some additional assumptions, the Nevanlinna family can be interpreted as a Weyl function of a densely defined symmetric operator with some boundary triplet [see \textit{V.\,A.\thinspace Derkach} and \textit{M.\,M.\thinspace Malamud}, J.~Math.\ Sci., New York 73, No.\,2, 141--242 (1995; Zbl 0848.47004)]. The authors show here that in the general situation, the Nevanlinna family is a Weyl function of a more general object called a boundary relation, which was introduced in their earlier paper [\textit{V.\,Derkach, S.\,Hassi, M.\,Malamud} and \textit{H.\,De Snoo}, Trans.\ Am.\ Math.\ Soc.\ 358, No.\,12, 5351--5400 (2006; Zbl 1123.47004)]. This correspondence is studied in detail; in particular, the authors investigate the conditions under which a Nevanlinna family gives rise to an operator extension (in the general case, one has to deal with relation extensions). Characterizations of various subclasses of extensions, as well as a number of examples, are given.