Abstract characteristic function (Q371628)

This paper is concerned with (a very large class of) \(n\)-tuples of commuting operators on a Hilbert space which have an analytic model consisting of multiplication operators on a domain in \(\mathbb{C}^n\), as developed in [\textit{C.-G. Ambrozie}, \textit{M. Engliš} and \textit{V. Müller}, J. Oper. Theory 47, No. 2, 287--302 (2002; Zbl 1019.47015)]. For such tuples, it is shown that the positivity of a certain kernel is a necessary and sufficient condition for the existence of a characteristic function, and it is shown that for so-called ``pure'' tuples, the characteristic function is a complete unitary invariant of the tuple. The material in this paper generalizes the classical construction of the characteristic function of \textit{B. Sz.-Nagy} and \textit{C. Foiaş} [Harmonic analysis of operators on Hilbert space. Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó; Amsterdam-London: North-Holland (1970; Zbl 0201.45003)] and is applicable to a wide range of Hilbert modules, including the Drury-Arveson Hilbert module.