RETRACTED: A proof of Nirenberg conjecture on expansive mappings in Hilbert spaces (Q2208287)

The author claims to prove the following theorem that answers a challenging open problem from the book [\textit{L. Nirenberg}, Topics in nonlinear functional analysis. Notes by R. A. Artino. New York: Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences, New York University (1974; Zbl 0286.47037)]: let \(X\) be a real Hilbert space, \(T : X \to X\) be a continuous and \(\alpha \)-expansive map such that \(T(X)\) has non-empty interior. Then \(T\) is surjective. Unfortunately, Step~1 of the proof essentially relies on the following erroneous ``Bolzano-Weierstrass theorem for double sequences'' (Theorem~6.5 from the paper [\textit{E. Habil}, ``Double sequences and double series'', IUG J. Nat. Stud. 14, 32~p. (2006); \url{https://journals.iugaza.edu.ps/index.php/IUGNS/article/view/1594}]): let \((p(n, m))_{n, m \in \mathbb N}\) be a bounded double sequence of reals, then there are \(n_1 < n_2 < \dots\) and \(m_1 < m_2 < \dots\) such that the double sequence \((p(n_k, m_j))_{k, j \in \mathbb N}\) converges. An easy counterexample to such a ``Bolzano-Weierstrass theorem'' appears if one takes \(p(n, m) = 0\) for \(n < m\) and \(p(n, m) = 1\) for \(n \geqslant m\). Editor's remarks. (1)~This paper has meanwhile been retracted on the basis of the above review, which, however, is not credited in the retraction notice on the publisher's website. (2)~Subsequently, a refutation of Nirenberg's conjecture has appeared [\textit{D.~Ives} and \textit{D.~Preiss}, Proc. Am. Math. Soc. 149, No.~1, 301--310 (2021; Zbl 1471.46069)].