On the spectra of left-definite operators (Q371798)

If \(A\) is self-adjoint and bounded from below, then the authors [J. Differ. Equations 181, No.~2, 280--339 (2002; Zbl 1008.47029)] have shown that, for each \(r>0\), there exists a unique Hilbert space \(H_r\) and a unique self-adjoint operator \(A_r\) in \(H_r\) satisfying certain conditions dependent on the Hilbert space \(H\) and the operator \(A\). The space \(H_r\) and the operator \(A_r\) are called the \(r\)-th left-definite space and the \(r\)-th left-definite operator associated with the pair \((H,A)\). In this paper, the authors prove that the operators \(A\), \(A_r\), \(A_s\), with \(r,s>0\), are isometrically isomorphically equivalent and that the spaces \(H\), \(H_r\), and \(H_s\) are isometrically isomorphic. These facts are then used to reproduce the left-definite spaces and operators. As a consequence, the authors show that the spectra of \(A\) and \(A_r\) are equal.