Stability theorems for linear combinations of idempotents (Q2385090)

Let \(\alpha(A)\) (resp., \(\beta(A)\)) be the dimension of the kernel (resp., cokernel) of an operator \(A\) on a Banach space \(X\) and let \(\Gamma=\{(c_1,c_2)\in{\mathbb C}:c_1\neq 0,c_2\neq 0,c_1+c_2\neq 0\}\). Suppose that \(P_1\) and \(P_2\) are idempotent operators on \(X\). The following facts are proved. (i) If \(c_1P_1+c_2P_2\) is upper semi-Fredholm for some \((c_1,c_2)\in\Gamma\), then it is upper semi-Fredholm for all \((c_1,c_2)\in\Gamma\) and \(\alpha(c_1P_1+c_2P_2)\) is constant on \(\Gamma\). (ii) If \(c_1P_1+c_2P_2\) is lower semi-Fredholm for some \((c_1,c_2)\in\Gamma\), then it is lower semi-Fredholm for all \((c_1,c_2)\in\Gamma\) and \(\beta(c_1P_1+c_2P_2)\) is constant on \(\Gamma\). (iii) If \(c_1P_1+c_2P_2\) is Fredholm for some \((c_1,c_2)\in\Gamma\), then it is Fredholm for all \((c_1,c_2)\in\Gamma\) and \(\alpha(c_1P_1+c_2P_2)\), \(\beta(c_1P_1+c_2P_2)\) are constant on \(\Gamma\). This result implies, in particular, that the invertibility of \(c_1P_1+c_2P_2\) is independent of the choice of \((c_1,c_2)\in\Gamma\). The latter fact was proved by a different method for the case of Hilbert spaces by \textit{H.--K.\thinspace Du, X.--Y.\thinspace Yao} and \textit{C.--Y.\thinspace Deng} [Proc.\ Am.\ Math.\ Soc.\ 134, No.\,5, 1451--1457 (2006; Zbl 1089.47002)].