Quasi-universal functions for sequences of composition operators on \(H ^{2}\) via Hoffman's theory (Q649053)

The author works with the Hardy-Hilbert space \(H^ 2\) of analytic functions in the disk with square-summable Taylor coefficients and also with the unit ball \(\mathcal B\) of \(H^\infty\) (that is, the set of analytic functions on the disk bounded by one). To unify the exposition, he denotes by \(X\) either of these two sets and distinguishes between them only if necessary. Given a sequence of holomorphic \(\phi_n\) of the unit disk \(\mathbb D\) into itself, a function \(f\) in \(X\) is said to be \(X\)-\textit{universal} for \((\phi_n)\) if the set \(\{f\circ\phi_n\,:\,n \in \mathbb N\}\) is dense in \(X\). Note that, if \(\phi_n\) happens to be exactly the \(n\)-th iterate of a fixed self-map \(\phi\) of the disk, then universality of \(f\) in \(H^ 2\) means exactly hypercyclicity for the composition operator \(C_\phi\) induced by \(\phi\). A function \(f\) in \(H^ 2\) is said to be \textit{quasi-universal} for \(C_\phi\) if the linear span of the set \(\{f\circ\phi_n\,:\,n \in \mathbb N\}\) is dense in \(H^ 2\). Again, observe that when \(\phi_n\) is the \(n\)-th iterate of a fixed self-map \(\phi\) of the disk, then quasi-universality of a vector in \(H^ 2\) means that it is a cyclic vector for \(C_\phi\). It can also be seen that any \(\mathcal B\)-universal function yields a quasi-universal function for \(H^ 2\). A~result of \textit{F. Bayart}, \textit{P. Gorkin}, \textit{S. Griveaux} and the author [Ark. Mat. 47, No. 2, 205--229 (2009; Zbl 1195.30069)] states that, for a sequence \((\phi_n)\) of holomorphic self-maps of the disk such that \(\lim_{n\to\infty} |\phi_n (0)|=1\), the following conditions are equivalent: (1) the sequence \((\phi_n)\) admits a \(\mathcal B\)-universal function; (2) the sequence \((\phi_n)\) admits a \(\mathcal B\)-universal Blaschke product; (3) \(\limsup_{n\to\infty} \frac{|\phi_n^\prime (0)|}{1 -|\phi_n(0)|^2}=1\). Thus, sequences of holomorphic self-maps \(\phi_n\) of the disk which satisfy the conditions \(\lim_{n\to\infty} |\phi_n (0)|=1\) and \[ \limsup_{n\to\infty} \frac{|\phi_n^\prime (0)|}{1-|\phi_n(0)|^2}=1 \] are relevant and have been named \textit{admissible} by the author. Using Hoffman's theory of maximal ideals in \(H^\infty\), in the paper under review the author establishes the following fact: for any admissible sequence as above, there exists a thin Blaschke product \(B\) which is a quasi-universal function for \((\phi_n)\) in \(H^ 2\) and whose zeros are as sparse as desired. This generalizes some results obtained earlier by Gallardo, Gorkin, and Suárez regarding thin Blaschke products [\textit{E. A. Gallardo-Gutiérrez} et al., J. Math. Anal. Appl. 388, No.~2, 1013--1026 (2012; Zbl 1232.47026), \url{arXiv:1002.3833}]. The author considers several other consequences of this result and related facts, among them, the limit points of admissible sequences in the maximal ideal space, or the problem whether an interpolating Blaschke product can be \(\mathcal B\)-universal for admissible sequences. He also gives simple proofs of various known results on this subject. The paper is clearly written and divided into eight sections. It reviews both the function-theoretic and functional-analytic background. The article ends with a relevant section where a class of examples of admissible sequences is exhibited.