Essentially normal \(+\) small compact \(=\) strongly irreducible (Q1377230)

Let \(L(H)\) be the algebra of all bounded linear operator on an infinite-dimensional, separable Hilbert space \(H\). The authors study the problem for which operators \(T\in L(H)\) there exists a compact operator \(K\in L(H)\) so that \(S:= T+K\) is strongly irreducible, meaning that \(S\) does not commute with any nontrivial idempotent in \(L(H)\). The following result is proved. Theorem. Let \(T\in L(H)\) be essentially normal, with connected spectrum \(\sigma(T)\). Assume that for every \(\lambda\in\sigma(T)\) for which the map \(\lambda\text{ id}- T\) is a Fredholm operator, the index of \(\lambda\text{ id}- T\) is strictly positive. Then for each \(\varepsilon> 0\) there exists a compact operator \(K\in L(H)\) with \(\| K\|\leq\varepsilon\) so that \(T+K\) is strongly irreducible. Preliminary results have been obtained for example by \textit{C. L. Jiang}, \textit{S. H. Sun} and \textit{Z. Y. Wang} in [Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 349, No. 1, 217-233 (1997; Zbl 0870.47017)].