Linear maps preserving the spectral radius (Q2565235)

Let \(X\) be a complex Banach space and \({\mathcal B}(X)\) the algebra of all bounded linear operators on \(X\). For \(A\in{\mathcal B}(X)\) let \(\sigma(A)\) and \(r(A)\) denote the spectrum and the spectral radius of \(A\). It has been shown by \textit{A. A. Jafarian} and \textit{A. R. Sourour} [J. Funct. Anal. 66, 255-261 (1986; Zbl 0589.47003)] that if \(X\) and \(Y\) are two Banach spaces and \(\Phi:{\mathcal B}(X)\to{\mathcal B}(Y)\) is a surjective linear map such that \(\sigma(\Phi(A))= \sigma(A)\) for each \(A\in{\mathcal B}(X)\) then \(\Phi\) is either an algebra isomorphism or an antiisomorphism. In this paper, the authors show an analogous result (when \(X=Y\)) under the weaker hypothesis that \(\Phi\) preserves the spectral radius. More precisely, if \(\Phi:{\mathcal B}(X)\to{\mathcal B}(X)\) is a surjective linear map such that \(r(\Phi(A))=r(A)\) for each \(A\in{\mathcal B}(X)\) then either (i) there is a complex \(c\) with \(|c|=1\) and a bounded bijective linear operator \(T:X\to X\) such that \(\Phi(A)= cTAT^{-1}\) for every \(A\in{\mathcal B}(X)\), or (ii) there is a complex \(c\) with \(|c|=1\) and a bounded bijective linear operator \(T: X'\to X\) such that \(\Phi(A)=cT A'T^{-1}\) for each \(A\in{\mathcal B}(X)\). In this case, \(X\) must be reflexive, \(X'\) is the dual of \(X\) and \(A'\) the adjoint of \(A\).