Norm for sums of two basic elementary operators (Q1935998)

The basic elementary operator \(M_{A,B}\) is defined on \(B(X)\) by \(M_{A,B}(Z) = AZB\). In this paper, the authors prove several estimates for the norm of the elementary operator \(M_{A,B} + M_{C,D}\). They also give some conditions, expressed in terms of the numerical range, under which the operator \(M_{A,B} + M_{C,D}\) attains its optimal value \(\|A\|\|B\| + \|C\|\|D\|\).