Similarity of nests in \(L_1\) (Q1813257)

A nest \(\mathcal N\) is a family of closed subspaces of a complex Banach space \(\mathcal X\) that is totally ordered by inclusion, \(\mathcal N\) is called complete if it contains \(\{0\}\), the whole space and it is closed under the formation of the closed linear span and intersection of arbitrary subfamilies. \textit{R. V. Kadison} and \textit{I. M. Singer} [Am. J. Math. 82, 227--259 (1960; Zbl 0096.31703)] introduces the class of triangular algebras of Hilbert space operators. Hyperreducible triangular algebras, called ordered bases are in close connection with the nest of their invariant projections. \textit{J. R. Ringrose} [Am. J. Math. 83, 463--478 (1961; Zbl 0100.11602)] has shown that algebraic isomorphisms between ordered bases are given by similarity transformations. In the present article the authors show that two complete nests \(\mathcal N\) and \(\mathcal M\) in separable Hilbert spaces are similar if and only if they are lattice isomorphic. They also show that a certain boundary subspace affiliated with a similarity transformation between nets in \(L_1\) contains an invertible operator. The \(L_1\) theory is developed extensively.