More on positive commutators (Q711028)

This note is a continuation of the work of the authors that appeared in [Positivity 14, No.\,3, 431--439 (2010; Zbl 1205.47040)]. Let \(A\) and \(B\) be positive operators on a Banach lattice such that the commutator \(C = AB-BA\) is positive. After giving sufficient conditions under which a positive commutator of positive operators must be zero, the authors give a Banach lattice analogue of the Kleinecke-Shirokov Theorem that provides a partial answer to one of the questions raised by the authors in their earlier paper. Theorem. Let \(A, B\) be bounded operators on a Banach lattice \(E\) with \(A\) compact and positive. Suppose that the commutator \(C\) is also positive. If either \(AC\geq CA\) or \(AC\leq CA\), then \(C\) is an ideal-triangularizable quasi-nilpotent operator. On invertibility of positive commutators, they give the following results. Theorem. Let \(A, B\) and \(T\) be positive operators on a Banach lattice \(E\) such that \(T\leq AB-BA\) and either \(TA\geq AT\) or \(TA\leq AT\). If \(T\) is invertible, then the inverse is not a positive operator. Theorem. Let \(A, B\) and \(T\) be positive operators on a Banach lattice \(E\) such that \(AB\geq BA\geq 0\). Then the number 0 can not belong to the unbounded connected component of the resolvent set of \(C\). In particular, if the resolvent set of \(C\) is connected, then \(C\) is not invertible.