Generalized bi-circular projections (Q2467744)

Let \(X\) be a complex Banach space. Recall that an operator \(T\colon X\to X\) is hermitian if \(e^{i\alpha T}\) is a surjective isometry on \(X\) for all \(\alpha\in\mathbb R\). It is known that a projection \(P\colon X\to X\) is hermitian if and only if \(P+e^{i\alpha}(I-P)\) is a surjective isometry on \(X\) for all \(\alpha\in\mathbb R\). A hermitian projection is called bi-circular projection. Also, a projection \(P\) is said to be a generalized bi-circular projection if \(P+\lambda (I-P)\) is a surjective isometry on \(X\) for some \(\lambda \in S^1\setminus\{1\}\), where \(S^1\) denotes the unit circle of \(\mathbb C\). A generalized bi-circular projection is said to be nontrivial if it is not hermitian. \textit{F.\,Botelho} and \textit{J.\,Jamison} [Proc.\ Am.\ Math.\ Soc.\ 136, No.\,4, 1397--1402 (2008; Zbl 1135.47013)] showed that a projection \(P\) on \(C([0,1])\) is a nontrivial generalized bi-circular projection if and only if \(P-(I-P)\) is a surjective isometry. In the present paper, the author shows that if \(P\) is a projection such that \(P+\lambda (I-P)\) is a surjective isometry for some \(\lambda\), then either \(P\) is hermitian or \(\lambda\) is an \(n\)th unit root of unity. The author also proves that if \(\lambda \) is an \(n\)th unit root of unity, then there are a complex Banach space \(X\) and a nontrivial generalized bi-circular projection \(P\) on \(X\) such that \(P+\lambda (I-P)\) is an isometry on \(X\).