Approximation numbers = singular values (Q2381604)

Let \(T:B_1 \rightarrow B_2\) be a compact operator \(\not=0\) between Banach spaces spaces \(B_1,B_2\) with strictly convex dual spaces \(B_1',B_2'\), and \(B_1\) reflexive. Then \(\mu>0\) is called a \textit{singular value} of \(T\) if there exists \(f \not= 0\) in \(B_1\) satisfying the Euler type equation \(T'L_2(Tf)=\mu L_1(f)\), where \(L_1(f) \in B_1'\) and \(L_2(Tf) \in B_2'\) denote the unique dual vectors to \(f\) and \(Tf\), respectively. For a compact operator between Hilbert spaces, this coincides with the standard terminology. The author then specialises to the Hardy operator \(Tf(x)=v(x)\int_a^x uf\), considered as an operator on \(L^p(a,b)\), \(1<p<\infty\), where \(u \in L^{p'}(a,b)\) and \(v \in L^p(a,b)\) are given functions. It is shown that in this case the singular values are the eigenvalues of a nonlinear Sturm-Liouville equation and coincide with the approximation numbers and the Bernstein widths of the operator. Finally, asymptotic formulas for the singular values are deduced.