Functional models up to similarity and \(a\)-contractions (Q2227647)

Given a function \(\alpha\) with power series representation \(\sum_{n=0}^{\infty} \alpha_n t^n\) in the unit disc \(\{|t| < 1\}\), and a bounded linear operator \(T\) on a Hilbert space \(H\) (in short, \(T \in L(H)\)), define \[ \alpha(T^*, T) = \sum_{n=0}^{\infty} \alpha_n T^{*n} T^n, \] whenever this series converges in the strong operator topology in \(L(H)\). An important case and also relevant to the paper under review is the following: For \(a > 0\), define \(\alpha(t) = (1 - t)^a\). Then \(T \in L(H)\) is an \(a\)-contraction if \((1 - t)^a(T^*, T) \geq 0\), and \(T\) is an \(a\)-isometry if \((1 - t)^a(T^*, T) = 0\). In particular, if \(a = m\) is a natural number, then this recovers the known concept of \(m\)-isometries and \(m\)-contractions. The authors prove that (i) an operator satisfying a certain inequality in hereditary form is similar to \(a\)-contraction, and (ii) given \(0 < b < a\), an \(a\)-contraction need not be a \(b\)-contraction in general, but is a \(b\)-contraction under some natural conditions. As the authors point out, the paper under review is the second part of [\textit{L. Abadias} et al., J. Math. Anal. Appl. 498, No. 2, Article ID 124984, 40 p. (2021; Zbl 1480.47015)].