Orthogonality in \({\mathcal C}_p\) classes (Q5944684)

Let \({\mathcal C}_p\) denote the von Neumann-Schatten class, \(\|\cdot\|_p\) its norm and let \({\mathcal E}: {\mathcal C}_p\to{\mathcal C}_p\) be an elementary operator defined by \({\mathcal E}(X)=AXB-CXD\). We characterize those operators \(S\in {\mathcal C}_p\) which are orthogonal to the range of \({\mathcal E}\) in the sense that \(\|{\mathcal E}(X)+S\|_p\geq\|S\|_p\) for all \(X\in {\mathcal C}_p\). The main results of this paper are: If \(p>1\) and (i) if \(A\), \(C\), respectively \(B\), \(D\) are commuting normal operators with \(\ker A\cap\ker C=\ker B^*\cap\ker D^* =\{0\}\), or (ii) if \(A\), \(B\) are contractions and \(C=D=1\), then \(S\in {\mathcal C}_p\) is orthogonal to the range of \({\mathcal E}\) if and only if \(S\) is in the kernel of \({\mathcal E}\). Furthermore, in both cases, the algebraic direct sum satisfies \(\overline{\text{ran }{\mathcal E}}\dot +\ker {\mathcal E}={\mathcal C}_p\).