Cones and gauges in complex spaces: spectral gaps and complex Perron-Frobenius theory (Q974076)

This article is a continuation of the author's study [Ann. Math (2) 168, No.~3, 695--748 (2008; Zbl 1181.37066)]. Its purpose is to provide ``spectral gap'' type theorems for a bounded linear operator acting on a (real or) complex Banach space and to deduce an extension of associated results to the complex case. First, \(\mathbb C\)-invariant complex cones, ``gauges'' on them by using the Poincaré metric and, under additional regularity assumptions, projective contractions are investigated. Next, the canonical complexification of real cones is determined so that a real Birkhoff cone is isometrically embedded into its complexification and the latter enjoys the same contraction properties with respect to linear operators. The author then (Theorem 6.3) proves that, if a complex operator is dominated by a sufficiently regular real cone contraction, then the complex operator has a spectral gap. The goal is thus accomplished by presenting complex analogues of well-known real cone contraction theorems: A Perron-Frobenius Theorem for complex \(n \times n\) matrices, Jentzsch's Theorem for complex integral operators, a Kreĭn-Rutman Theorem for compact and quasi-compact complex operators and a Ruelle-Perron-Frobenius Theorem for complex transfer operators. For instance, the simplest statement reads: For a given \(A \in M_{n}(\mathbb C)\) suppose that there is \(0 < c < +\infty\) such that \(|\mathrm{Im\,} A_{ij}\overline{A}_{mn}| < c \leq\mathrm{Re\,}A_{ij}\overline{A}_{mn}\) holds for all indices. Then \(A\) has a spectral gap. The paper concludes with a discussion of how the results obtained compare to those of perturbation theory.