Characteristic functions and joint invariant subspaces (Q2497907)

The classical result from the Sz.--Nagy--Foiaş theory of contractions states that there is a ``one-to-one'' correspondence between invariant subspaces of a completely non-unitary contraction \(T\) on a (separable) Hilbert space and regular factorizations of the characteristic function associated with \(T\). The present paper presents a multivariable version of this result for row contractions. An \(n\)-tuple \(T=(T_1,\dots,T_n)\) of bounded linear operators acting on a Hilbert space \(\mathcal H\) is called a row contraction if \(T_1T^\ast_1+\dots+T_nT^\ast_n\leq I\). For a completely non-coisometric (c.n.c.) row contraction \(T=(T_1,\dots,T_n)\) it is established the existence of a ``one-to-one'' correspondence between the joint invariant subspaces of the operators \(T_1, \dots, T_n\), and the regular factorization of the characteristic function \(\Theta_T\) associated with \(T\). Using the model theory for c.n.c.\ row contractions, it is constructed a functional model for the joint invariant subspaces in terms of the regular factorizations of the characteristic function. It is also proved the existence of a unique triangulation of type \[ \begin{pmatrix} C_{\cdot 0} & 0 \\ \ast & C_{\cdot 1} \end{pmatrix} \] for any row contraction and proved the existence of nontrivial joint invariant subspaces for certain classes of contractions. It is shown that there is a nontrivial joint invariant subspace of \(T=(T_1,\ldots,T_n)\) whenever the inner-outer factorization of the characteristic function \(\Theta_T\) is nontrivial. Finally, there are also established criteria for joint similarity of \(n\)-tuples of operators to Cuntz row isometries, i.\,e., \(n\)-tuples of operators \(W=(W_1,\dots,W_n)\) with \(W_1W^\ast_1+\dots+W_nW^\ast_n=I\).