On the ${\Ext}^2$-problem for Hilbert spaces

Abstract

We show that $\Ext^2(\ell_2, \ell_2)\neq 0$ in the category of Banach spaces. This solves a sharpened version of Palamodov's problem and provides a solution to the second order version of Palais problem. We also show that $\Ext^2(\ell_1, \K)\neq 0$ in the category of quasi Banach spaces which solves the four-space problem for local convexity.