Amenability of algebras of approximable operators (Q836110)

Let \(A\) be a Banach algebra. If \(X\) is a Banach \(A\)-bimodule, then its topologial dual \(X^*\) becomes a Banach \(A\)-bimodule. The algebra \(A\) is amenable if, for every Banach \(A\)-bimodule \(X\), every continuous derivation from \(A\) into \(X^*\) is inner. The paper under review is concerned with the amenability of the Banach algebra \(A(X)\) of approximable operators on a Banach space \(X\). Building upon ideas from \textit{N.\,Grønbæk, B.\,E.\thinspace Johnson} and \textit{G.\,A.\thinspace Willis} [Isr.\ J.\ Math.\ 87, No.\,1--3, 289--324 (1994; Zbl 0806.46058)], the authors develop new techniques which allow to improve several results from the above mentioned paper and to answer some of the questions left open there. The authors explore the relationship between the amenability of \(A(X)\) and the factorization properties of operators. The non-amenability of \(A(X)\) for every Banach space \(X\) in a certain family of Tsirelson-like spaces is established.