Fixed point theory and nonexpansive mappings (Q1927943)

In [Sémin.\ Anal.\ Fonct.\ 1980--1981, Exposé No. 8 (1981; Zbl 0476.46023)], \textit{B. Maurey} introduced ultraproduct techniques to solve problems in metric fixed point theory. In the article under review, the author considers three general questions from metric fixed point theory and presents recent results that illustrate the use of ultraproduct techniques in considering these open questions. For example, to illustrate the question of which geometric properties of a Banach space imply that the space has the weak fixed point property, the author gives a proof using ultraproducts of a result of \textit{P. N. Dowling}, \textit{B. Randrianantoanina} and the reviewer [J.\ Funct.\ Anal.\ 255, No. 3, 768--775 (2008; Zbl 1167.46011)] that \(E\)-convex Banach spaces have the (weak) fixed point property for nonexpansive mappings. As an example of a partial answer to the question of which Banach spaces can be renormed to have the weak fixed point property, the author presents a proof of a result of \textit{T. Domínguez Benavides} [J.\ Math.\ Anal.\ Appl.\ 350, No. 2, 525--530 (2009; Zbl 1182.46003)] that every reflexive space can be renormed to have the (weak) fixed point property. The author also gives conditions under which the \(\ell_2\)-sum of two Banach spaces has the weak fixed point property. Finally, to illustrate questions on the stability of the weak fixed point property, the author gives a proof using ultraproducts of a result of \textit{E. M. Mazcuñán-Navarro} [Proc.\ Am.\ Math.\ Soc.\ 134, No. 1, 129--138 (2006; Zbl 1078.47016)] which says that, if the Banach-Mazur distance from a Banach space \(X\) to \(\ell_2\) is less than \(\sqrt{\frac{5 + \sqrt{17}}{2}}\), then \(X\) has the (weak) fixed point property. The last section of the article presents many important open problems in the field.