Differential geometry on Thompson's components of positive operators (Q1573875)

Let \(L(H)\) denote the algebra of bounded linear operators on a Hilbert space \(H\) and let \(L(H)^+\) be the set of all positive bounded operators on \(H\). The Thompson component of each element \(A\in L(H^+)\), \(C_A= \{B\in L(H)^+: A\leq rB\) and \(B\leq sA\) for some \(r,s> 0\}\), defines the Thompson partition of \(L(H)^+\); the study of this partition from a differential geometric view point is the aim of this paper. The geometry of the component \(G^+\) of all positive invertible operators on \(H\) is well known [see \textit{G. Corach}, \textit{H. Porta} and \textit{L. Recht}, Integral Equations Oper. Theory, 16, No. 3, 333-359 (1993; Zbl 0786.58006); \textit{G. Corach}, Banach Cent. Publ. 30, 101-115 (1994; Zbl 0820.47019) and \textit{G. Corach} and \textit{A. L. Maestripieri}, Positivity 3, No. 4, 297-315 (1999)]. Here, a method which allows to study every Thompson component of \(L(H)^+\) is given. So, each \(C_A\) has a differential structure modelled by an appropriate Banach space and is a homogeneous space with a natural connection, so that for any arbitrary elements \(B\), \(C\in C_A\), there exists a unique geodesic with endpoints \(B\) and \(C\). Finally, a Finsler metric on \(C_A\) for which the geodesics are short is defined and the coincidence of this metric with the so-called Thompson metric is proved.