Subnormal operators, cyclic vectors and reductivity (Q2840501)

Let \(H\) be a separable Hilbert space and let \(T\) be a bounded linear operator on \(H\). A vector \(x\in H\) is called cyclic for \(T\) if the smallest \(T\)-invariant subspace containing \(x\) is \(H\), and \(x\) is \(\ast\)-cyclic for \(T\) if the smallest \(T\)-reducing subspace containing \(x\) is \(H\). We write \(x\in\operatorname{cyc}(T)\) and \(x\in\ast\operatorname{cyc}(T)\), respectively. If \(\operatorname{cyc}(T)\) (\(\ast\operatorname{cyc}(T)\)) is non-empty, we say that \(T\) is cyclic (\(\ast\)-cyclic). Clearly, \(\operatorname{cyc}(T) \subset\ast\operatorname{cyc}(T)\).NEWLINENEWLINEAn operator is called reductive if each of its invariant subspaces is orthogonally reducing. \textit{W. T. Ross} and \textit{W. R. Wogen} [Indiana Univ. Math. J. 53, No. 6, 1537--1550 (2004; Zbl 1083.47018)] showed that, if a cyclic normal operator \(T\) is reductive, then \(\operatorname{cyc}(T) =\ast\operatorname{cyc}(T)\). In the main theorem of this paper, the author shows that this statement is true without assuming normality and, more importantly, that the converse holds for cyclic normal operators.