Split partial isometries (Q371823)

Let \(\mathcal H\) be a Hilbert space and \({\mathcal B}({\mathcal H})\) denote the space of bounded operators on \(\mathcal H\). For \(A \in {\mathcal B}({\mathcal H})\), let \(R(A)\) denote its range space and \(N(A)\) be its null space. \(T \in {\mathcal B}({\mathcal H})\) is called a partial isometry if \(T\) is an isometry between \(N(T)^{\perp}\) and \(R(T)\). Let \(\mathcal I\) denote the set of partial isometries on \(\mathcal H\). \(T \in {\mathcal B}({\mathcal H})\) is called a split partial isometry if \(N(T)\) and \(R(T)\) are closed and complementary subspaces of \(\mathcal H\). Let \({\mathcal I}_0\) denote the set of split partial isometries on \(\mathcal H\). In this interesting work, the authors show, among other things, the following: \(T \in {\mathcal I}_0\) if and only if the group inverse of \(T\) (being a unique \(S \in {\mathcal B}({\mathcal H})\) such that \(TST=T\), \(STS=S\) and \(TS=ST\)) exists. This holds if and only if zero is a pole of order one of the resolvent of \(T\). It is shown that \({\mathcal I}_0\) is a submanifold of \({\mathcal B}({\mathcal H})\) and that any partial isometry lying close enough to a projection belongs to \({\mathcal I}_0\). Certain differential geometric results on \({\mathcal I}_0\) are also proved, for instance, if \(T_0\) and \(T_1\) are split partial isometries of a particular type, then they can be joined by a smooth curve in \({\mathcal I}_0\).