The spectrum of the product of operators, and the product of their numerical ranges (Q486227)

Let \(B(H)\) be the algebra of all bounded linear operators on a complex Hilbert space \(H\). For \(A\in B(H)\), let \(\sigma(A)\) and \(W(A)\) be its spectrum and numerical range, respectively. It was shown by \textit{J. P. Williams} [J. Math. Anal. Appl. 17, 214--220 (1967; Zbl 0143.36703)] that \( \sigma (A^{-1}B)\subseteq \overline{W(B)}/\overline{W(A)}\) whenever \(A, B\in B(H)\) and \(0\notin \overline{W(A)}\). It follows from this result that, if \(A\in M_n\) is a multiple of a positive semi-definite matrix, then \(\sigma(AB)\subseteq W(A)W(B)\) for all \(B\in M_n\). \textit{R. Bouldin} [J. Math. Anal. Appl. 33, 212--219 (1971; Zbl 0211.44401)] extended this result to operators: if \(A\) is a (multiple of a) positive semi-definite operator, then the convex hull of the spectrum \(\sigma (AB)\) is contained in \(\overline{W(A)}\,\overline{W(B)}\) for every \(B\in B(H)\). In the paper under review, the authors are concerned with the converse problem. It is proved that a compact operator \(A\) is a multiple of a positive semi-definite operator if and only if \(\sigma (AB)\subseteq \overline{W(A)}\,\overline{W(B)}\) for all operators \(B\). Actually, it is enough to consider only rank one operators \(B\). An example of a normal non-compact operator \(A\) is given for which the result does not hold. In the end, some conditions to identify other classes of operators \(A\) for which the above equivalence holds are obtained.