A note on symmetric separation in Banach spaces

From MaRDI portal
Publication:2331728



Abstract: We present some new results on the symmetric Kottman's constant Ks(X) of a Banach space X and its relationship with the Kottman constant. We show that Ks(X)>1, for every infinite-dimensional Banach space, thereby solving a problem by J.M.F. Castillo and P.L. Papini. We also investigate such constant in the class of Banach spaces admitting c0 spreading models, answering in particular one question from our previous joint paper with P. H'ajek and T. Kania.


This paper is relevant, is full of mathematical insight, and is fun. Consider the unexpected Elton-Odell theorem [\textit{J. Elton} and \textit{E. Odell}, Colloq. Math. 44, 105--109 (1981; Zbl 0493.46014)] asserting what its title says or, equivalently, that the so-called Kottman separation constant $K(X)$ of every infinite-dimensional Banach space is greater than 1. This result provides a true tour-de-force for Riesz's lemma, and Kottman himself had already shown in [\textit{C. A. Kottman}, Stud. Math. 53, 15--27 (1975; Zbl 0266.46014)] that the unit ball of every infinite-dimensional Banach space contains some sequence separated by more than one. In this paper, the author extends the result to symmetrically separated sequences and shows that, for every infinite-dimensional Banach space the symmetric Kottman constant is also greater than one; i.e., \[ K_s(X) = \inf \{\sigma>0: \exists (x_n)\subset B_X,\ \forall n\neq m,\ \|x_n \pm x_m\|\geq \sigma\} >1. \] The paper is relevant because it closes the problem, and fun because it tells its origin, history and landmarks quite entertainingly (so there is no need to tell the story here: the interested reader is referred to Russo's paper); it is full of mathematical insight because the two~(!) proofs presented are brimful of suggestions and ideas for further research. Perhaps the only ones missing are the ``symmetric versions of the problems mentioned by Diestel in the last two pages of [\textit{J. Diestel}, Sequences and series in Banach spaces. GTM 92, Springer-Verlag (1984; Zbl 0542.46007)] for the standard Kottman constant.



Cites work









This page was built for publication: A note on symmetric separation in Banach spaces

Report a bug (only for logged in users!)Click here to report a bug for this page (MaRDI item Q2331728)