L-Orthogonal Elements and L-Orthogonal Sequences

Abstract

Abstract Given a Banach space $X$, we say that a sequence $\{x_n\}$ in the unit ball of $X$ is $L$-orthogonal if $\Vert x+x_n\Vert \rightarrow 1+\Vert x\Vert $ for every $x\in X$. On the other hand, an element $x^{**}$ in the bidual sphere is said to be $L$-orthogonal (to $X$) if $\|x+x^{**}\|= 1+\Vert x\Vert $ for every $x\in X$. The aim of this paper is to clarify the relation between $L$-orthogonal sequences and $L$-orthogonal elements. Namely, we study whether every $L$-orthogonal sequence contains $L$-orthogonal elements in its weak*-closure. We provide an affirmative answer whenever the ambient space has small density character. Nevertheless, we show that, surprisingly, the general answer is independent of the usual axioms of set theory.