# Why does a unitary in the Calkin algebra always lift to an (co-)isometry?

Cf. the the title, consider a separable infinite-dimensional Hilbert space H, and the short exact sequence $$0 \to \mathcal{K}(H) \to \mathcal{B}(H) \to \mathcal{Q}(H) \to 0,$$where $\mathcal{K}(H)$ is the compact operators and $\mathcal{Q}(H)$ is the quotient, also known as the Calkin algebra.

Let $u$ be a unitary in $\mathcal{Q}(H)$. This means that $u = T + \mathcal{K}$, for a $T \in \mathcal{B}(H)$ where the differences $TT^* - I$ and $T^*T - I$ are compact. How can one show that $u$ lifts to an isometry, or a co-isometry? That is, why is there an isometry (or co-isometry) $S \in \mathcal{B}(H)$ such that $\pi (S) = u$, where $\pi$ denotes the quotient mapping? (Equivalently $S - T$ is compact)

This is an exercise in Rørdam's book on K-theory. In the previous part of the exercise one shows that whenever $E$ and $F$ are projections in $\mathcal{B}(H)$ with $Rank(E) \leq Rank(F)$ there exists a partial isometry $V$ with $V^*V = E$ and $VV^* \leq F$. I am assuming that one should use this somehow, possibly together with some results about the index map $\delta_1$, but I am really stuck on this one. Any help is appreciated!

Here is an argument that does not appeal to index theory and uses the suggestion in the book.

Let $$T$$ such that $$\pi(T)=u$$. Write $$T=V|T|$$ for the polar decomposition of $$T$$. Then, $$V$$ is a partial isometry, i.e. $$V^*V$$ and $$VV^*$$ are projections.

Since $$\pi(T^*T)=\pi(I)$$ and $$\pi$$ is a $$*$$-homomorphism, $$\pi(|T|)=\pi ((T^*T)^{1/2})=\pi(I)$$. It follows that $$\pi(V)=\pi(T)$$.

We have that $$\pi (V)$$ is a unitary and $$V^*V$$ is a projection, so $$I-V^*V$$ is a compact projection; thus, finite-rank. Similarly with $$I-VV^*$$.

Now, if $$V^*V=I$$ or $$VV^*=I$$, then $$V$$ is, respectively, an isometry or a co-isometry. If $$I-V^*V$$ and $$I-VV^*$$ are both nonzero, we have two cases:

• $$\dim\text{Rank}(I-V^*V)\leq\dim\text{Rank}(I-VV^*)$$. By the previous exercise in the book, let $$W$$ be a partial isometry with $$W^*W=I-V^*V$$ and $$WW^*\leq I-VV^*$$. By conjugating the inequality with $$V^*$$, we get $$0=V^*(I-VV^*)V=V^*WW^*V.$$ It follows that $$W^*V=0$$. Then $$V+W$$ is an isometry, since $$(V+W)^*(V+W)=V^*V+W^*W+W^*V+V^*W=V^*V+W^*W=I.$$

• $$\dim\text{Rank}(I-V^*V)\geq\dim\text{Rank}(I-VV^*)$$. Similar to the previous case, now the isometry will be $$V^*+W^*$$.

Finally, note that since $$W^*W$$ is finite rank, $$0=\pi(W^*W)=\pi(W)^*\pi(W),$$ so $$\pi(W)=0$$. Then $$\pi(V+W)=\pi(V)=\pi(T)=u.$$

• Both answers are very nice, but I am accepting this one since it uses the hints in the book, and thus might be more helpful to others. – Pjolter Nov 4 '16 at 7:44

If $u \in Q(H)$ is unitary, let $T_1 \in B(H)$ such that $\pi(T_1) = u$, then consider $$T = T_1R^{-n}$$ where $R$ denotes the left or right shift (which exists on your separable infinite dimensional Hilbert space) so that $T$ has index zero. Now $\exists S_1 \in GL(B(H))$ such that $$T-S_1 \in K(H)$$ Hence, $S:=S_1R^n$ satisfies $$T_1 -S\in K(H)$$ and is an isometry or co-isometry.

• This is very nice stuff! Thank you. I do not immediately see why $S_1$ exists, but I will ponder a bit on this. (I have no previous experience with Fredholm operators and index.) – Pjolter Nov 3 '16 at 14:57
• If $\text{index}(T) = 0$, then there is an isomorphism $V: \ker(T)\to \ker(T^{\ast})$ whose domain may be extended to all of $H$. This should help you in defining $S_1$. – Prahlad Vaidyanathan Nov 4 '16 at 3:45
• Yes, I think I will manage that! – Pjolter Nov 4 '16 at 7:49
• I've been looking over this argument again and there is an important point I can't seem to fathom. Where is it used that u is a unitary, i.e. that $I - T_1^*T_1$ and $I - T_1T_1^*$ are compact? To me it seems like this is never used, so this argument would then imply that every element in the Calkin algebra lifts to a (co-)isometry, but this is clearly impossible. – Pjolter Nov 11 '16 at 12:15