Perturbations of operators and non-commutative condensers, an update on the quasicentral modulus

Abstract

This is an update on the quasicentral modulus, an invariant for an n-tuple of Hilbert space operators and a rearrangement invariant norm, that plays a key-role in sharp multivariable generalizations of the classical Weyl-von Neumann-Kuroda and Kato-Rosenblum theorems of perturbation theory. There are also connections with self-similar measures on certain fractals and to the Kolmogorov-Sinai dynamical entropy. Some open problems are also pointed out. Recently a non-commutative analogy with condenser capacity in nonlinear potential theory is emerging, that provides a new perspective on the subject.