Subspaces that can and cannot be the kernel of a bounded operator on a Banach space

Abstract

Given a Banach space $E$, we ask which closed subspaces may be realised as the kernel of a bounded operator $E \rightarrow E$. We prove some positive results which imply in particular that when $E$ is separable every closed subspace is a kernel. Moreover, we show that there exists a Banach space $E$ which contains a closed subspace that cannot be realized as the kernel of any bounded operator on $E$. This implies that the Banach algebra $\mathcal{B}(E)$ of bounded operators on $E$ fails to be weak*-topologically left Noetherian. The Banach space $E$ that we use is the dual of Wark's non-separable, reflexive Banach space with few operators.