A note on geodesics of projections in the Calkin algebra (Q2203989)

The author considers the Calkin algebra on a Hilbert space, i.e., the algebra of bounded operators modulo compact operators. Inside the Calkin algebra, he considers the image \(\mathcal{P}\) of the self-adjoint projection operators, a kind of infinite-dimensional Grassmannian. The operator norm on each tangent space of \(\mathcal{P}\) induces a length metric on \(\mathcal{P}\). The author proves that any two points of \(\mathcal{P}\) are connected by a minimal geodesic in \(\mathcal{P}\) if and only if they arise from bounded operators \(P,Q\) so that the null spaces of \(P-Q\pm 1\) are both finite-dimensional or both infinite-dimensional. The minimal geodesic is unique if \(P+Q-1\) has quotient in the Calkin algebra with trivial annihilator.