The main object of this thesis is to study the numerical range of Hilbert-space operators. In 1973, T. Ando examined the geometric and algebraic properties of operators and developed a structure theory. In continuation of his work, there has been much progress, especially in the study of the core of a numerical contraction in terms of dilation theory and representation theory. In the first half of this thesis, explicit expressions for the minimum and the maximum of the core of a numerical contraction are studied. The expressions for these extremals are given as strongly convergent non-commutative operator series in terms of the given numerical contraction and its adjoint. This part of the thesis serves as a complement to T. Ando's theorem, in which we find that the operator series provides an efficient mechanism for writing a numerical contraction in terms of dilations and representations. The main tool employed is the theory of Schur complements of positive semi-definite operator matrices. Further discussions on the classical Catalan problem and another related combinatorial problem are also presented. In the second half of this thesis, matrices whose numerical ranges are the closed unit disc are investigated, and the structural expressions of those matrices are studied. As a result, matrices having elliptical discs as numerical range are found to possess the property that the foci of the disc are their eigenvalues. The structure theory obtained by T. Ando, especially the representation of numerical contractions, is essential in proving these results. Finally, the structural expressions of matrices with numerical range equal to the closed unit disc are used to provide an alternative proof for P.Y. Wu's theorem concerning the norms of matrices.

Starting with elementary operator theory and matrix analysis, this book introduces the basic properties of the numerical range and gradually builds up the whole numerical range theory. Over 400 assorted problems, ranging from routine exercises to published research results, give you the chance to put the theory into practice and test your understanding. Interspersed throughout the text are numerous comments and references, allowing you to discover related developments and to pursue areas of interest in the literature. Also included is an appendix on basic convexity properties on the Euclidean space. Targeted at graduate students as well as researchers interested in functional analysis, this book provides a comprehensive coverage of classic and recent works on the numerical range theory. It serves as an accessible entry point into this lively and exciting research area.

Aimed toward researchers, postgraduate students, and scientists in linear operator theory and mathematical inequalities, this self-contained monograph focuses on numerical radius inequalities for bounded linear operators on complex Hilbert spaces for the case of one and two operators. Students at the graduate level will learn some essentials that may be useful for reference in courses in functional analysis, operator theory, differential equations, and quantum computation, to name several. Chapter 1 presents fundamental facts about the numerical range and the numerical radius of bounded linear operators in Hilbert spaces. Chapter 2 illustrates recent results obtained concerning numerical radius and norm inequalities for one operator on a complex Hilbert space, as well as some special vector inequalities in inner product spaces due to Buzano, Goldstein, Ryff and Clarke as well as some reverse Schwarz inequalities and Grüss type inequalities obtained by the author. Chapter 3 presents recent results regarding the norms and the numerical radii of two bounded linear operators. The techniques shown in this chapter are elementary but elegant and may be accessible to undergraduate students with a working knowledge of operator theory. A number of vector inequalities in inner product spaces as well as inequalities for means of nonnegative real numbers are also employed in this chapter. All the results presented are completely proved and the original references are mentioned.

The book concisely presents the fundamental aspects of the theory of operators on Hilbert spaces. The topics covered include functional calculus and spectral theorems, compact operators, trace class and Hilbert-Schmidt operators, self-adjoint extensions of symmetric operators, and one-parameter groups of operators. The exposition of the material on unbounded operators is based on a novel tool, called the z-transform, which provides a way to encode full information about unbounded operators in bounded ones, hence making many technical aspects of the theory less involved.

This self-contained work on Hilbert space operators takes a problem-solving approach to the subject, combining theoretical results with a wide variety of exercises that range from the straightforward to the state-of-the-art. Complete solutions to all problems are provided. The text covers the basics of bounded linear operators on a Hilbert space and gradually progresses to more advanced topics in spectral theory and quasireducible operators. Written in a motivating and rigorous style, the work has few prerequisites beyond elementary functional analysis, and will appeal to graduate students and researchers in mathematics, physics, engineering, and related disciplines.