Linear combinations of composition operators on \(H^{\infty }\) (Q2473941)

For an analytic self-map \(\varphi\) of the unit disc, the composition operator \(C_\varphi\) defined by \(C_\varphi(f) = f \circ \varphi\) is a bounded operator on the Banach algebra \(H^\infty\) of bounded analytic functions on the unit disc. \textit{B. MacCluer, S. Ohno} and \textit{R. Zhao} [Integral Equations Oper. Theory 40, No. 4, 481--494 (2001; Zbl 1062.47511)] have studied the topological structure of the set \(C(H^\infty)\) of composition operators on \(H^\infty\) with the operator norm. In order to determine the topological structure of \(C(H^\infty)\), one has to estimate the norm and the essential norm of differences of two composition operators. \textit{P. Gorkin} and \textit{R. Mortini} [Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 358, No. 2, 553--571 (2006; Zbl 1081.47029)] studied norms and essential norms of linear combinations of endomorphisms on uniform algebras. In the paper under review, the authors calculate the norms and essential norms of linear combinations of composition operators on \(H^\infty\) in many different situations and obtain several interesting results. They also characterize their compactness and study the relation between the extremeness of analytic self-maps in the ball of \(H^\infty\) and the compactness of linear combinations of composition operators.