Norm attaining operators of finite rank

Abstract

We provide sufficient conditions on a Banach space $X$ in order that there exist norm attaining operators of rank at least two from $X$ into any Banach space of dimension at least two. For example, a rather weak such condition is the existence of a non-trivial cone consisting of norm attaining functionals on $X$. We go on to discuss density of norm attaining operators of finite rank among all operators of finite rank, which holds for instance when there is a dense linear subspace consisting of norm attaining functionals on $X$. In particular, we consider the case of Hilbert space valued operators where we obtain a complete characterization of these properties. In the final section we offer a candidate for a counterexample to the complex Bishop-Phelps theorem on $c_0$, the first such counterexample on a certain complex Banach space being due to V. Lomonosov.

25 pages, minor modifications, to appear in the special volume "The mathematical legacy of Victor Lomonosov", to be published by De Gruyter