The Daugavet property of \(C^{\ast}\)-algebras, \(JB^{\ast}\)-triples, and of their isometric preduals (Q2484250)

A Banach space \(X\) has the Daugavet property if every rank-\(1\) operator (equivalently, every weakly compact operator) \(T\) on \(X\) satisfies \(\| \text{Id} + T\| = 1+\| T\| \). This paper gives geometric characterisations of (real or complex) \(C^*\)-algebras and JB\(^*\)-triples and their preduals that have the Daugavet property. Related theorems (in the complex case) can be found in [\textit{T.~Oikhberg}, Positivity 6, No. 1, 59--73 (2002; Zbl 1004.46040); \textit{M.~Martín} and \textit{T.~Oikhberg}, J. Math.\ Anal.\ Appl.\ 294, No. 1, 158--180 (2004; Zbl 1054.46010)]. A sample result says that a JB\(^*\)-triple has the Daugavet property iff its norm is not Fréchet differentiable anywhere, and a JBW\(^*\)-triple has the Daugavet property iff its predual does iff every relatively weakly open subset of the unit ball of the predual has diameter \(2\) iff the unit ball of the predual fails to have extreme points. To derive these results, the authors give a new sufficient condition for a Banach space to have the Daugavet property, exploiting the \(L\)-structure of the dual space. The authors also study ultrapowers of JB\(^*\)-triples and show that a JB\(^*\)-triple has the Daugavet property iff its ultrapowers have the Daugavet property; in other words, a JB\(^*\)-triple with the Daugavet property has the uniform Daugavet property. Reviewer's remark: A slight glitch has occurred in the proof of Theorem~5.6 (see line~10 on page~333); as it stands, it does not appear to be conclusive.