The Fredholm index of a pair of commuting operators (Q2499332)

Fredholm theory for tuples of commuting operators has its origins in the natural extensions of index theory from single elliptic operators to elliptic complexes of differential operators. The abstract counterpart of the theory was developed much later, based on the pioneering work of \textit{J.~L.\ Taylor} [Acta Math.\ 125, 1--38 (1970; Zbl 0233.47025)]. For an algebraic introduction to the subject see [\textit{J.~Eschmeier} and \textit{M.~Putinar}, ``Spectral decompositions and analytic sheaves'' (Lond.\ Math.\ Soc.\ Mon., New Ser.\ 10, Oxford Univ.\ Press) (1996; Zbl 0855.47013)]. The author focuses in the present article on the theory of the Hilbert--Samuel polynomial of an analytic Hilbert module. His main contribution is a novel link between local commutative algebra results (such as Lech's formula) and operator theory invariants. Particular attention is paid to the study of the commutative Fock space in two variables, also known as the Arveson space of the unit ball in \({\mathbb C}^2\), also known as the Drury space. The explicit computations carried out on this example reveal the identity between Arveson's curvature invariant and the Hilbert--Samuel multiplicity of the corresponding module [see \textit{W.~Arveson}, J.~Reine Angew.\ Math.\ 522, 173--236 (2000; Zbl 0951.47008)]. The article is well written, with ample references, side remarks, and technical details.