Entropy and multivariable interpolation

Abstract

We define a new notion of entropy for operators on Fock spaces and positive definite multi-Toeplitz kernels on free semigroups. This is studied in connection with factorization theorems for (multi-Toeplitz, multi-analytic, etc.) operators on Fock spaces. These results lead to entropy inequalities and entropy formulas for positive definite multi-Toeplitz kernels on free semigroups (resp.multi-Toeplitz operators) and consequences concerning the extreme points of the unit ball of the noncommutative analytic Toeplitz algebra F_n^\infty. We obtain several geometric characterizations of the multivariable central intertwining lifting, a maximum principle, and a permanence principle for the noncommutative commutant lifting theorem. Under certain natural conditions, we find explicit forms for the maximal entropy solution (and its entropy) for this multivariable commutant lifting theorem. All these results are used to solve maximal entropy interpolation problems in several variables. We obtain explicit forms for the maximal entropy solution (as well as its entropy) of the Sarason, Caratheodory-Schur, and Nevanlinna-Pick type interpolation problems for the noncommutative (resp.commutative) analytic Toeplitz algebra F_n^\infty (resp.W_n^\infty)and their tensor products with B(H,K). In particular, we provide explicit forms for the maximal entropy solutions of several interpolation (resp.optimization) problems on the unit ball of C^n.