Schur class operator functions and automorphisms of Hardy algebras (Q936126)

Summary: Let \(E\) be a \(W^{\ast}\)-correspondence over a von Neumann algebra \(M\) and let \(H^{\infty}(E)\) be the associated Hardy algebra. If \(\sigma\) is a faithful normal representation of \(M\) on a Hilbert space \(H\), then one may form the dual correspondence \(E^{\sigma}\) and represent elements in \(H^{\infty}(E)\) as \(B(H)\)-valued functions on the unit ball \(\mathbb{D}(E^{\sigma})^{\ast}\). The functions that one obtains are called Schur class functions and may be characterized in terms of certain Pick-like kernels. We study these functions and relate them to system matrices and transfer functions from systems theory. We use the information gained to describe the automorphism group of \(H^{\infty}(E)\) in terms of special Möbius transformations on \(\mathbb{D}(E^{\sigma})\). Particular attention is devoted to the \(H^{\infty}\)-algebras that are associated to graphs.