M-ideals and quasi-triangular algebras (Q1074841)

If \({\mathcal P}\) is a linearly ordered set of projections on a Hilbert space and \({\mathcal K}\) is the ideal of compact operators, then \(\text{Alg}\, {\mathcal P}+{\mathcal K}\) is the quasi-triangular algebra associated with \({\mathcal P}.\) We show that \((\text{Alg}\,{\mathcal P}+{\mathcal K})/\text{Alg}\,{\mathcal P}\) is an M-ideal in \({\mathcal L}(H)/\text{Alg}\,{\mathcal P}\) for any nest \({\mathcal P}\). Using the known approximation properties of M-ideals, we conclude the existence and non-uniqueness of best quasi-triangular approximants to a given operator. A key tool is an operator analogue of the abstract F. and M. Riesz Theorem which we give in section 2. We also show that \((\text{Alg}\,{\mathcal P}+{\mathcal K})/\text{Alg}\,{\mathcal P}\) is never an M-summand in \({\mathcal L}(H)/\text{Alg}\,{\mathcal P}\) for any nest \({\mathcal P}\).