On a bitangential interpolation problem for contractive-valued functions on the unit ball (Q697047)

Let \({\mathbb B}^d\) be the unit ball in \({\mathbb C}^d\) (\(d\in{\mathbb N}\)) and let \(\langle z,w\rangle =\sum_{j=1}^dz_j\overline w_j\) for \(z,w\in {\mathbb C}^d\). A \({\mathbb C}^{p\times q}\)-valued function \(S\) \((p,q\in{\mathbb N})\) analytic on \({\mathbb B}^d\) is said to be from the multi-dimensional Schur class \({\mathcal S}_d^{p\times q}\) if the kernel \(K(z,w)=\frac{I_p-S(z)S(w)^*}{1-\langle z,w\rangle }\) is positive of \({\mathbb B}^d\). This class has been alternatively characterized in the paper by \textit{J. A. Ball, T. Trent} and \textit{V. Vinnikov} [Oper. Theory, Adv. Appl. 122, 89--138 (2001; Zbl 0983.47011)] as a class of characteristic functions of \(d\)-variable colligations. The paper under review deals with the bitangential interpolation problem in the class \({\mathcal S}_d^{p\times q}\). The problem is proved to be solvable if and only if some matrix \(P\) associated with the interpolation data is positively semidefinite. The general scheme of solving the problem is similar to that used by \textit{V. Katsnelson, A. Kheifets} and \textit{P. Yuditskii} [Oper. Theory, Adv. Appl. 95, 283--298 (1997; Zbl 0948.41003)]. An isometric operator \(V\) acting in a finite-dimensional model space is associated to the problem. The set of solutions turns out to be in a one-to-one correspondence with the set of unitary colligations which are extensions of the isometry \(V\) and this set is described explicitely as a Redhefer transform of a free parameter from the Schur class \({\mathcal S}_d^{p'\times q'}\), where \(p',q'\in{\mathbb N}\). The case when \(P\) is degenerate is also considered. In a partial case of the left-sided tangential interpolation problem, the interpolation set is given by a block matrix \(A=\text{col}(A_1,\dots,A_d)\), where the \(A_j\) are commuting \({\mathbb C}^{n\times n}\)-matrices \((j=1,\dots,d)\) such that the joint spectrum of \(A_1, \dots, A_d\) is contained in \({\mathbb B}^d\). Let the evaluation map \(F\mapsto F^{\wedge L}(A)\) be given by \(F^{\wedge L}(A)=\sum_{k\in{\mathbb Z}_+^d} A^kF_k\) for \(F=\sum_{k\in{\mathbb Z}_+^d} F_kz^k\) and let \(X\) and \(Y\) be \({\mathbb C}^{n\times n}\)-matrices. The left-sided tangential interpolation problem consists in the following: find all \({\mathbb S}_d^{p\times q}\) functions \(S\) such that \((XS)^{\wedge L}(A)=Y\). The problem is shown to be solvable if and only if the Pick matrix \( {\mathbb P}=\sum_{k\in{\mathbb Z}_+^d}\frac{| k| !}{k!}A^k(XX^*-YY^*)(A^k)^* \) is positive semidefinite. The authors also discuss other partial cases of the tangential interpolation problem in the class \({\mathcal S}_d\) and its connections with the bitangential interpolation problem in the \(d\)-variable Schur-Agler class of contractive valued functions in the polydisk [see \textit{D. Alpay, J. A. Ball} and \textit{V. Bolotnikov} [J. Oper. Theory 44, 277--302 (2000; Zbl 0998.47008)].