On mapping theorems for numerical range

Hubert Klaja, Javad Mashreghi, Thomas Ransford

Published 2015-10-27Version 1

Let $T$ be an operator on a Hilbert space $H$ with numerical radius $w(T)\le1$. According to a theorem of Berger and Stampfli, if $f$ is a function in the disk algebra such that $f(0)=0$, then $w(f(T))\le\|f\|_\infty$. We give a new and elementary proof of this result using finite Blaschke products. A well-known result relating numerical radius and norm says $\|T\| \leq 2w(T)$. We obtain a local improvement of this estimate, namely, if $w(T)\le1$ then \[ \|Tx\|^2\le 2+2\sqrt{1-|\langle Tx,x\rangle|^2} \qquad(x\in H,~\|x\|\le1). \] Using this refinement, we give a simplified proof of Drury's teardrop theorem, which extends the Berger-Stampfli theorem to the case $f(0)\ne0$.