The algebra of bounded linear operators on \(\ell_p \oplus \ell_q\) has infinitely many closed ideals (Q683513)

For $p,q\in(1,\infty)$ with $p$ smaller than $q$, the authors prove that the algebra $\mathcal{L}(\ell p\oplus\ell q)$ of all bounded linear operators on $\ell p\oplus\ell q$ has infinitely many closed ideals. This result solves a long standing open problem raised by \textit{A. Pietsch} [Operator ideals. Berlin: VEB Deutscher Verlag der Wissenschaften (1978; Zbl 0399.47039), Problem 5.3.3]. It is worth mentioning that in fact the techniques developed along the paper provide a stronger result: there is a continuum of such ideals.