The Smirnov class for de Branges-Rovnyak spaces (Q2124539)

Let \(\mathbb{D}\) denote the open unit disk in the complex plane, and let \(H^\infty\) denote the space of bounded analytic functions on \(\mathbb{D}\). Let \(H^2\) denote the classical Hardy space of analytic functions on the unit disk. It is well known that every \(\varphi\in H^\infty\) is a multiplier of \(H^2\); meaning that \[\varphi H^2=\{ \varphi f : f\in H^2\}\subseteq H^2.\] Moreover, according to a theorem of Smirnov, every \(f\in H^2\) can be written as \(f=\varphi / \psi\) where \(\varphi , \psi \in H^\infty\), and \(\psi\) is an outer function (meaning that \(\psi H^2\) is dense in \(H^2\)).\par Now let \(\mathcal{H}\) be a reproducing kernel Hilbert space of analytic functions on the unit disk, and let \(\mathcal{M(H)}\) denote the multiplier (algebra) of \(\mathcal{H}\); that is, those analytic functions \(\varphi\) on the unit disk satisfying \(\varphi\mathcal{H}\subseteq \mathcal{H}\). Inspired by the known facts in the Hardy space, the authors define the \textit{Smirnov class} of \(\mathcal{H}\) by \[\mathcal{N^+(H)}=\left \{ \frac{\varphi}{\psi}: \varphi, \psi \in \mathcal{M(H)}, \overline{\psi \mathcal{H}}=\mathcal{H}\right \}.\] In this situation, \(\mathcal{H}\) is said to satisfy the \textit{Smirnov property} if \(\mathcal{H}\subseteq \mathcal{N^+(H)}\). By [\textit{A. Aleman} et al., J. Lond. Math. Soc., II. Ser. 96, No. 1, 228--242 (2017; Zbl 1382.46016)], reproducing kernel Hilbert spaces satisfying the complete Nevanlinna-Pick property enjoy the Smirnov property. Moreover, it was shown in [\textit{C. Chu}, J. Funct. Anal. 279, No. 6, Article ID 108608, 14 p. (2020; Zbl 1455.30050)] that \textit{de Branges-Rovnyak} spaces have the Smirnov property too. Let us recall that for a function \(\varphi\) in the closed unit ball of \(H^\infty\), the de Branges-Rovnyak space \(\mathcal{H}(\varphi)\) is the reproducing kernel Hilbert space of analytic functions whose kernel function is given by \[K_\lambda^\varphi(z)=\frac{1-\varphi(z)\overline{\varphi(\lambda)}}{1-\overline{\lambda}z},\quad \lambda,z\in\mathbb{D}.\] The main result of this paper, Theorem 1.1, states that if \(\Vert \varphi\Vert_\infty \le 1\), and if \(\varphi\) is a rational function, but not an \textit{inner function}, then \(\mathcal{H}(\varphi)\subseteq \mathcal{N}^+(\mathcal{H}(\varphi)).\)