Asymptotic estimates on the von Neumann inequality for homogeneous polynomials (Q1789365)

The authors use \(C_{k,q}(n)\) to denote that smallest constant such that for every \(k\)-homogeneous polynomial \(p\) in \(n\) variables and every \(n\)-triple of contractions \((T_1,\dots, T_n)\) on a Hilbert space \(H\) with \(\sum_{j=1}^n\|T_i\|_{\mathcal{L}(H)}^q\leq 1\) the inequality \[ \|p(T_1,\dots,T_n)\|_{\mathcal{L}(H)}\leq C_{k,q}\sup\{|p(z_1,\dots,z_n)|:\|(z_j) _j\|_q\} \] is satisfied. They show that, when \(q=\infty\), \(C_{k,\infty}(n)\sim n^{\frac{k-2}{2}}\), in the sense that there are \(A,B>0\) with \(An^{\frac{k-2}{2}}\leq C_{k,\infty}(n) \leq Bn^{\frac{k-2}{2}}\) for all \(n\). For \(2\leq q<\infty\), they show that \[ \log^{\frac{-3}{q}}(n) n^{\frac{k-2}{2}} \ll C_{k,q}(n) \ll n^{\frac{k-2}{2}}. \] These results generalise the classical von Neumann inequality and are an improvement on previous results of \textit{P. G. Dixon} [J. Lond. Math. Soc., II. Ser. 14, 369--375 (1976; Zbl 0338.47003)] in the case when \(q=\infty\) and of \textit{A. M. Mantero} and \textit{A. Tonge} [Proc. Lond. Math. Soc. (3) 38, 309--334 (1979; Zbl 0401.46030)] in the case when \(1\leq q <\infty\). The key to their result is the use of \(k\)-homogeneous polynomials constructed using a partial Steiner system of type \(S_p(k-1,k,n)\) as opposed to partial Steiner systems of type \(S_p(\lceil\frac{k-1}{2}\rceil,k,n)\) used by Dixon. Other von Neumann inequalities are also obtained.