Lomonosov’s Techniques and Burnside’s Theorem (Q4487052)

In the paper under review, the celebrated technique based on Schauder's fixed point theorem, developed by \textit{V. I. Lomonosov} [Funct. Anal. Appl. 7(1973), 213-214 (1974); translation from Funkts. Anal. Prilozh. 7, No. 3, 55-56 (1973; Zbl 0293.47003)] is applied in order to prove the following infinite-dimensional version of Burnside's theorem: ``Let \(E\) be a complex Banach space and \(A\) a weakly closed subalgebra of the algebra \(L(E)\) of all bounded linear operators on \(E\). If \(A\neq L(E)\), then there exist \(u\in E^{**}\), \(l\in E^*\) such that \(u\neq 0\), \(l\neq 0\) and \[ |u(T^*(l))|\leq\text{ distance from \(T\) to the compact operators on \(E\)} \] for every \(T\in A\).'' This theorem was first obtained by \textit{V. Lomonosov} [Isr. J. Math. 75, No.2/3, 329-339 (1991; Zbl 0777.47005)] using quite different arguments. Let us note that \textit{S. W. Brown} previously applied the same type of nonlinear analysis technique in order to prove the above cited result when \(E\) is a Hilbert space and the algebra \(A\) is commutative [N. Z. J. Math. 23, No.1, 11-18 (1994; Zbl 0824.47004]. It is worth to mention also that a very simple proof in this case, using only elementary spectral theory, was discovered by \textit{B. Prunaru} [Integral Equations Oper. Theory 24, No. 2, 248-249 (1996; Zbl 0840.47003)].