Uniform factorization for \(p\)-compact sets of \(p\)-compact linear operators (Q5964416)

Let \(X\) be a Banach space and let \(1\leq p < \infty\). A subset \(K\) of \(X\) is relatively \(p\)-compact if there exists a sequence \((x_n)_n \in \ell_p(X)\) such that \(K\subset p\)-\(co\{x_n\}:=\{\sum_{n=1}^{\infty}\alpha_n x_n : (\alpha_n)_n \in B_{\ell_{p'}}\}\) (\(\ell_{p'}=c_0\) if \(p=1\)). The \(p\)-compactness of sets is a refined notion of compactness. In fact, in the limit case \(p=\infty\), one recovers the compact sets. This notion was introduced by \textit{D. P. Sinha} and \textit{A. K. Karn} [Stud. Math. 150, No. 1, 17--33 (2002; Zbl 1008.46008)] and has been intensely studied by several authors in recent years. From \(p\)-compact sets, there arise in a natural way the \(p\)-compact operators. A (bounded) linear operator from a Banach space \(X\) to a Banach space \(Y\) is \(p\)-compact if it maps bounded sets to \(p\)-compact sets. The space of all \(p\)-compact operators from \(X\) to \(Y\) is denoted by \(\mathcal K_p(X;Y)\). It can be endowed with a norm, \(\kappa_p\), and becomes a Banach operator ideal. Of course, \((\mathcal K_{\infty}(X;Y);\kappa_\infty)\) is the Banach operator ideal of compact operators endowed with the usual norm. The main purpose of the article is to obtain a uniform factorization result for relatively \(p\)-compact subsets of the Banach space \((\mathcal K_{r}(X;Y),\kappa_r)\), in the same way as in [\textit{R. Aron} et al., Proc. Am. Math. Soc. 127, No. 4, 1119--1125 (1999; Zbl 0912.46006)] for relatively compact subsets of compact operators. For this, the authors first obtain a factorization of \(p\)-compact operators through a universal Banach space. Then, after an interesting characterization of relatively \(p\)-compact sets in the projective tensor product of Banach spaces, they obtain the desired factorization of relatively \(r\)-compact subsets o f\((\mathcal K_p(X;Y),\kappa_p)\) for \(r> 1\) and \(1\leq p \leq r<\infty\) (Proposition 3.7). The results obtained are applied to study a special class of 2-homogeneous polynomials. The article finishes with a number of questions for future research.