On the structure of contraction operators. II (Q1100703)

The results in Parts I and II of the present paper represent a major triumph in applying the theory of dual algebras to the invariant subspace problem. The developments of the theory of dual algebras started a decade ago with the pioneering paper [Integral Equations Oper. Theory 1, 310-333 (1978; Zbl 0416.47009)] by \textit{S. Brown} in which he not only solved the invariant subspace problem for subnormal operators but introduced the concept of dual algebra into the study of operator theory. There have been substantial activities since then; for a comprehensive overview of the developments up to 1984, see \textit{H. Bercovici}, \textit{C. Foiaş} and \textit{C. Pearcy}'s, Dual algebras with applications to invariant subspaces and dilation theory, Reg. Conf. Ser. Math. 56, xi, 108 p. (1985; Zbl 0569.47007). Recall that an absolutely continuous contraction T on a complex, separable, infinite-dimensional Hilbert space \({\mathcal H}\) is said to be in class \({\mathbb{A}}\) if the Sz.-Nagy-Foiaş functional calculus \(\Phi_ T\) is an isometry of the Hardy space \(H^{\infty}\) onto \({\mathcal A}_ T\), the weak* closed algebra generated by T and \(l_{{\mathcal H}}\). T is in class \({\mathbb{A}}_ 1\) if T is in \({\mathbb{A}}\) and every element [L] of \(Q_ T\), the predual of \({\mathcal A}_ T\), is the coset of some rank-one operator \(x\otimes y:[L]=[x\otimes y]\). The principal result of Part I of this paper, Theorem 4.erators.