We study the factorization of a kernel Q on a space X of the form Q = Q(1).
Q(2)...Q(n), where the kernels Q(k) belong to given sets of kernels on X. W
e give examples in Signal Analysis and Probability Theory and an applicatio
n to the algorithmic retrievial of the phase of an operator such that the o
nly known information about it is its modulus. (C) 1999 Academie des Scienc
es/Editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS.