Nonlinear centralizers in homology II. The Schatten classes.

An extension of X by Y is a short exact sequence of quasi Banach modules and homomorphisms 0 -→ Y -→ Z -→ X -→ 0. When properly organized all these extensions constitute a linear space denoted by ExtB(X, Y ), where B is the underlying (Banach) algebra. In this paper we "compute" the spaces of extensions for the Schatten classes when they are regarded in its natural (left) module structure over B = B(H), the algebra of all operators on the ground Hilbert space. Our main results can be summarized as follows: ... In the first case, every extension 0 -→ Sq -→ Z -→ Sp -→ 0 splits and so X = Sq -Sp. In the second case, every self-extension of Sp arises (and gives rise) to a minimal extension of S1 in the quasi Banach category, that is, a short exact sequence 0 -→ C -→ M -→ S1 -→ 0. In the third case, each extension corresponds to a "twisted Hilbert space", that is, a short exact sequence 0 -→ H -→ T -→ H -→ 0. Thus, the subject of the paper is closely connected to the early "three-space" problems studied (and solved) in the seventies by Enflo, Lindenstrauss, Pisier, Kalton, Peck, Ribe, Roberts, and others. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]