Representations of relations of the form \(i[A,B] = f(A) + g(B)\) (Q1176948)

Let \(H\) be a Hilbert space and \(A\), \(B\) two bounded selfadjoint operators on \(H\). The authors show that if \(i[A,b]=T+S\) with \(T\geq 0\), \(S\geq 0\) and \(T\in(A)''\), \(S\in(B)''\) (the bicommutant), then \([A,B]=0\). It follows from here that nontrivial representations of the form \[ i[A,b]=f(A)+g(B), \] where \(f\), \(g\) are non-negative Borel functions are possible only for unbounded selfadjoint operators \(A\), \(B\) (siince for bounded \(A\), \(B\) we have \(f(A)\in(A)''\), \(g(B)\in(B)''\)). The paper contains also some other interesting results about commutators.