The diagonal entries of a Hilbert space operator (Q1176421)

Let \(T\) be a bounded linear operator acting on a complex, separable, infinite-dimensional Hilbert space \(H\). For each orthonormal basis (ONB) \(\{e_ n\}\) of \(H\), \(T\) admits a unique representation of the form \[ T=\begin{pmatrix} t_{11} & t_{12} &\dots & t_{1n} &\dots\\ t_{21} & t_{22} &\dots & t_{2n} &\dots\\ \vdots\\ t_{n1} & t_{n2} &\dots & t_{nn} &\dots\\ \vdots &\vdots &\dots &\vdots &\dots\end{pmatrix} \] The author establishes the following result: Theorem. (i) If \(\{a_ n\}\subset W_ e(T)^ 0\), the interior of the essential numerical range of \(T\), and \(\{a_ n\}\) has a limit point in \(W_ e(T)^ 0\), then there exists an ONB \(\{e_ n\}\) such that \(\text{diag}(T)=\{a_ n\}\) with respect to this basis. (ii) If all the limit points of the sequence \(\{a_ n\}\) belong to \(W_ e(T)\), then there exist a compact operator \(K\) and an ONB \(\{e_ n\}\) such that \(\text{diag}(T+K)=\{a_ n\}\). Furthermore, if an \(\in W_ e(T) \forall n\), then \(K\) can be chosen of arbitrarily small norm. (iii) If \(\text{dist}[a_ n,W_ e(T)]\to 0\) \((n\to\infty)\), then there exist a sequence \(\{a_ n'\}\) and an ONB \(\{e_ n\}\) such that \(\text{diag}(T)=\{a_ n'\}\) with respect to this basis, and \(| a_ na_ n'|\to 0\) \((n\to\infty)\). It is also shown that these results are best possible.