\(\xi\)-asymptotically uniformly smooth, \(\xi\)-asymptotically uniformly convex, and (\(\beta\)) operators (Q1707943)

The authors introduce and study extensively the notions of higher-order (indexed by ordinals) asymptotic uniform smoothness, asymptotic uniform convexity and \(w^*\)-asymptotic uniform convexity of an operator between Banach spaces. The analogous notions of a Banach space can be recovered by taking the indexing ordinal equal to 0 and the operator in question equal to the identity. The \(w^*\)-asymptotic uniform convexity extends also the \(w^*\)-uniform Kadec-Klee property of higher order introduced in [\textit{G. Lancien} et al., J. Funct. Anal. 272, No. 2, 498--521 (2017; Zbl 1367.46009)] to the case of operators and uncountable ordinals. One of the main results of the paper is an elegant duality theorem: the authors show that, for any ordinal \(\xi\), an operator between Banach spaces is \(\xi\)-asymptotically uniformly smooth if and only if its adjoint is \(w^*\) \(\xi\)-asymptotically uniformly convex. The result is used in the following thereom: For any ordinal \(\xi\) an operator between Banach spaces can be renormed (i.e., its domain and range can be renormed independently) to be \(\xi\)-asymptotically uniformly smooth if and only if its Szlenk index does not exceed \(\omega^{\xi+1}\). A variant in the case of the range contained in the domain is also provided. The latter result substantially extends the classical theorem of \textit{H. Knaust} et al. [Positivity 3, No. 2, 173--199 (1999; Zbl 0937.46006)], which states that a separable Banach space admits an equivalent asymptotically uniformly smooth norm if and only if its Szlenk index does not exceed \(\omega\), as well as the parallel higher-order result of Lancien et al. [loc. cit.]. The authors also extend the property \((\beta)\) of Rolewicz to the case of operators between Banach spaces and give an operator version of the result of \textit{S. J. Dilworth} et al. [Rev. R. Acad. Cienc. Exactas Fís. Nat., Ser. A Mat., RACSAM 111, No. 1, 101--113 (2017; Zbl 1432.46002)], namely, they show that an operator \(A\) between Banach spaces admits an equivalent renorming with property \((\beta)\) if and only if \(A\) is weakly compact and the Szlenk indices of \(A\) and its adjoint do not exceed \(\omega\).