Algebras of diagonal operators of the form scalar-plus-compact are Calkin algebras (Q2185592)

The Calkin algebra \(Q(E)\) of a Banach space \(E\) is the quotient algebra of the algebra of all bounded operators on \(E\) by the ideal of compact operators on \(E\). For classical Banach spaces \(E\) such as \begin{itemize} \item[--] Hilbert spaces, \item[--] \(\ell_p\) for \(p\in [1,\infty]\), \item[--] \(C(K)\)-spaces for infinite compact metric space \(K\), etc., \end{itemize} it is known that \(Q(E)\) is huge from many points of view; in particular it is non-separable. It was the Argyros-Haydon construction that opened the Pandora's box of separable examples of Calkin algebras. The authors of the present paper develop a method of constructing Banach spaces with pre-specified Calkin algebras as follows. Let \(X\) be a Banach space with a Schauder basis. Then there exists a Banach space \(Y_X\) whose Calkin algebra is isomorphic to the unitisation of the algebra of compact operators on \(X\) that are diagonal w.r.t.\ the underlying Schauder basis. In particular, many classical unital Banach sequence algebras are isomorphic to Calkin algebras of separable Banach spaces, including the (bidual of) the James space. Moreover, the authors prove that there exists a hereditarily indecomposable Calkin algebra that is quasi-reflexive of order one. The paper is concluded with a list of seven open problems.