Pinchings and positive linear maps (Q892689)

Let \(\mathcal H\) be a separable Hilbert space and \(L(\mathcal H)\) be the algebra of all bounded linear operators on \(\mathcal H\). Let \(A \in L(\mathcal H)\). A pinching of \(A\) is an operator \(P(A)=\sum_{n=1}^{\infty}E_nAE_n\), where \(\{E_n\}_{n=1}^\infty\) is a total sequence of nonzero, mutually orthogonal projections on \(\mathcal H\). The first named author proved in [J. Oper. Theory 50, No. 2, 211--220 (2003; Zbl 1070.47003)] that if \(\{A_n\}_{n=1}^\infty\) is a sequence of operators in \(L(\mathcal H)\) such that \(\sup_n\| A_n\|<1\), and \(A\) is an operator with essential numerical range containing the unit disk, then there exists a pinching such that \(P(A)=\bigoplus_{n=1}^\infty A_n\). In the paper under review, the authors use the results of [loc.\,cit.]\ to obtain results about conditional expectations and unitary orbits. They improve a result of \textit{M. Kennedy} and \textit{P. Skoufranis} [Proc. Lond. Math. Soc. (3) 111, No. 2, 354--380 (2015; Zbl 1347.46043)] for normal operators as well as a result of \textit{J. Loreaux} and \textit{G. Weiss} [``Diagonality and idempotents with applications to problems in operator theory and frame theory'', J. Operator Theory 75, No. 1, 91--118 (2016; \url{doi:10.7900/jot.2014nov05.2054})] for idempotent operators. They also obtain a proof of a result of \textit{C. A. Akemann} and \textit{J. Anderson} [Mem. Am. Math. Soc. 458 (1991; Zbl 0769.46036)] showing that a positive contraction in a continuous masa can be lifted to a projection.