Caratheodory interpolation kernels (Q1187754)

The paper under review is a complement and addition to two recent works of \textit{J. Agler} [Some interpolation theorems of Nevanlinna-Pick type, J. Operator Theory, to appear, and respectively Operator theory and Nevanlinna-Pick interpolation, preprint]. The two classical interpolation problems for bounded functions in the unit disk, namely the Carathéodory problem (for the prescribed first coefficients of a function) and the Nevanlinna-Pick problem (for prescribed values at finitely many given points) are related in a constructive way. This relationship is obtained via the abstract positivity and contractivity theories of Hilbert space operators. Although quite laborious, the present approach of Scott McCullogh is finally expressible in concrete numerical terms. From this perspective the ppaer will certainly be of interest in some areas of applied mathematics.