Finite rank commutators of Toeplitz operators on the bidisk (Q2889264)

Let \(\mathbb{T}\) be the unit circle in the complex plane and write \(\mathbb{T}^2\) for the Cartesian product of two copies of \(\mathbb{T}\). The paper studies certain algebraic properties of Toeplitz operators \(T_u=PM_u\) acting on the Hardy space over \(\mathbb{T}^2\). Here, \(P\) denotes the orthogonal projection from \(L^2(\mathbb{T}^2)\) onto the Hardy space and \(M_u\) means the multiplication by \(u \in L^{\infty}(\mathbb{T}^2)\). The author addresses the question when the commutator of two Toeplitz operators on the Hardy space over the bidisk is zero, of finite rank or compact. The corresponding problem in the case of the Hardy space over \(\mathbb{T}\) is well understood and has been widely studied, starting with a fundamental work by \textit{A. Brown} and \textit{P. R. Halmos} [J. Reine Angew. Math. 213, 89--102 (1963; Zbl 0116.32501)]. However, in the case of the bidisk new effects arise and the analysis is more complicated. Generalizing results by \textit{C.-X. Gu} and \textit{D.-C. Zheng} [J. Oper. Theory 38, No.~1, 173--193 (1997; Zbl 0892.47028)], the author invents some new techniques in order to prove that, for a certain type of symbols, there are no non-trivial finite rank or compact commutators. More precisely, in the case where the symbol \(u\in L^{\infty}(\mathbb{T}^2)\) is non-constant and analytic in the first variable, the commutator \([T_u,T_v]\) has finite rank if and only if \(v\) is analytic in the first variable and \([T_u,T_v]=0\). Some further equivalent conditions are given and a similar result holds true if \(u\) is co-analytic in the first variable. In Theorems 6 and 8 of the paper, symbols of the form \(u(z,v)=f(z)g(w)\) and \(v(z,w)=h(z)k(w)\) with \(f,g,h,k\in L^{\infty}(\mathbb{T})\) are treated. If \(fh\neq 0\) or \(gk\neq 0\), then \([T_u,T_v]\) has finite rank if and only if \([T_u,T_v]=0\). Moreover, some conditions on \(f,h,g,k\) are given which ensure the finite rank property of the commutator. If \(fh\neq 0\) and \(gk\neq 0\), then the compactness of \([T_u,T_v]\) implies that \([T_u,T_v]=0\) (Theorem 8). A counterexample in the case where \(fh=0=gk\) had been given by \textit{C.-X. Gu} and \textit{D.-C. Zheng} [loc.\,cit.], showing that, in fact, one can realize non-zero compact commutators of Toeplitz operators on the Hardy space over the bidisk.