Centralizers in semisimple algebras, and descent spectrum in Banach algebras (Q2428030)

Let \(X\) be an infinite-dimensional complex Banach space and let \({\mathcal L}(X)\) be the set of all bounded linear operators on \(X\). The descent of \(T\in {\mathcal L}(X)\) is defined by the formula \[ d(T) = \min \{ n\geq0: R(T^{n})=R(T^{n+1}) \}, \] where \(R(T)\) is the range of \(T\). The \textit{descent spectrum} of \(T\) is defined by: \[ \sigma_{\text{desc}} = \{ \lambda\in {\mathbb C}: d(T-\lambda I)=\infty \}. \] \textit{M. Burgos, A. Kaidi, M. Mbekhta} and \textit{M. Oudghiri} [J. Oper. Theory 56, No. 2, 259--271 (2006; Zbl 1117.47008)], answering the question posed by \textit{M. A. Kaashoek} and \textit{D. C. Lay} [Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 169, 35--47 (1972; Zbl 0255.47025)], obtained the following result: if \(T\in {\mathcal L}(X)\), then some power of \(T\) has finite rank if and only if \( \sigma_{\text{desc}}(T + S) = \sigma_{\text{desc}}(S) \) for every \(S\in {\mathcal L}(X)\) commuting with \(T\). In the paper under review, there is given a variant of the previous assertion where the algebra \({\mathcal L}(X)\) is replaced by an arbitrary semi-simple complex Banach algebra \(A\), the ideal of all finite-rank operators in \({\mathcal L}(X)\) is replaced by the socle of \(A\), and the descent spectrum of an element \(a\in A\) is defined as the descent spectrum of the operator of left multiplication by \(a\) in \(A\).