On simultaneous triangularization of collections of compact operators (Q2469541)

A collection \(\mathcal F\) of operators on a Banach space \(X\) is reducible if \({\mathcal F}=\{ 0\}\) or there exists a proper nontrivial subspace of \(X\) that is invariant for every operator in \(\mathcal F\). If there exists a maximal chain of subspaces of \(X\) each of which is invariant for every operator in \(\mathcal F\), then \(\mathcal F\) is said to be triangularizable; see [\textit{H. Radjavi} and \textit{P. Rosenthal}, ``Simultaneous triangularization'' (Universitext; New York, NY: Springer) (2000; Zbl 0981.15007)] for a nice exposition of the subject. One of the main results of the paper is Theorem~2.5. Let \(X\) be a real or complex Banach space of dimension greater than \(1\), \(F\) a subfield of \(\mathbb R\), and \(\mathcal A\) an \(F\)-algebra of triangularizable compact operators with spectra in \(F\). Then \(\mathcal A\) is reducible. It follows from this theorem, for instance, that an \(R\)-algebra of compact operators with spectra in \(R\), where \(R\) is a subring of reals, on an arbitrary Banach space is triangularizable if and only if every member of the algebra is triangularizable. In the second part of the paper, there are more interesting results related to simultaneous triangularization of collections of compact operators. These results are used in new proofs and extensions of certain classical theorems.