Linear fractional self-maps of the unit ball

Abstract

Abstract Determining the range of complex maps plays a fundamental role in the study of several complex variables and operator theory. In particular, one is often interested in determining when a given holomorphic function is a self-map of the unit ball. In this paper, we discuss a class of maps in $\mathbb {C}^N$ that generalize linear fractional maps. We then proceed to determine precisely when such a map is a self-map of the unit ball. In particular, we take a novel approach, obtaining numerous new results about this class of maps along the way.