Operations on approximatively compact sets (Q941897)

A nonempty subset \(M\) of a Banach space \(X\) is called approximatively compact (a.c.) if, for any \(x\in X\), every minimizing sequence for \(x\) contains a subsequence convergent to some \(y\in M\). A sequence \((y_n)\) in \(M\) is called minimizing for \(x\) provided that \(\lim_n\|x-y_n\|=\rho(x,M):=\inf\{\|x-z\| : z\in M\}\). Obviously, \(\|x-y\|=\rho(x,M)\), so that every a.c.\ set is proximinal (and, a fortiori, closed). This notion was introduced by \textit{N. V. Efimov} and \textit{S. B. Stechkin} [Sov. Math., Dokl. 2, 1226--1228 (1961); translation from Dokl. Akad. Nauk SSSR 140, 522--524 (1961; Zbl 0103.08101)] in their study of the convexity problem for Chebyshev sets (see also the surveys \textit{V. S. Balaganskii} and \textit{L. P. Vlasov} [Russ.\ Math.\ Surv.\ 51, No. 6, 1127--1190 (1996); translation from Usp. Mat. Nauk 51, No. 6, 125-188 (1996); errata ibid. 52, No. 1, 237 (1997); Zbl 0931.41017)] and \textit{S. Cobzaş} [Abstr.\ Appl.\ Anal.\ 2005, No.\,3, 259--285 (2005; Zbl 1100.46005)]). Every separable Banach space contains a bounded a.c.\ set which is not compact, and in any reflexive Banach space there exists a bounded a.c.\ convex set which is not compact [\textit{P. A. Borodin}, Russ.\ Math.\ Surv.\ 49, No.\,4, 153--154 (1994); translation from Usp. Mat. Nauk 49, No. 4(298), 157--158 (1994; Zbl 0883.46008); Mosc.\ Univ.\ Math.\ Bull.\ 54, No.\,4, 18--20 (1999); translation from Vestn. Mosk. Univ., Ser. I 1999, No.5, 19--21 (1999; Zbl 0974.41011)]. A reflexive Banach space having the Kadec--Klee property is called an Efimov--Stechkin space. It is known that \(X\) is an Efimov--Stechkin space if and only if every nonempty closed convex subset of \(X\) is a.c. (a result of \textit{I. Singer} [Rev.\ Roum.\ Math.\ Pures Appl.\ 9, 167--177 (1964; Zbl 0166.39405)], who proposed the term Efimov--Stechkin space). One says that a Banach space is a (CLUR) space if for every \(x,x_n\in S_X\) (the unit sphere of \(X\)) such that \(\|x+x_n\|\to 2\), the sequence \((x_n)\) contains a convergent subsequence, an extension of the notion of local uniform rotundity (LUR). The author of the present paper shows that approximative compactness is not preserved by various operations with a.c. sets, even in spaces having good geometrical properties. For instance, any separable Banach space \(X\in (\text{CLUR})\) contains two a.c.\ sets whose intersection is not a.c. Also, in any CLUR Banach space \(X\) there exists an a.c.\ Klee cavern (the complement of a bounded convex body). The algebraic sum of two a.c.\ sets need not be a.c.,\ but it is a.c.\ if one of the sets is compact.