A. Lima et E. Oja, Ideals of finite rank operators, intersection properties of balls, and theapproximation property, STUD MATH, 133(2), 1999, pp. 175-186
We characterize the approximation property of Banach spaces and their dual
spaces by the position of finite rank operators in the space of compact ope
rators. In particular, we show that a Banach space E has the approximation
property if and only if for all closed subspaces F of c(0), the space F(F,
E) of finite rank operators from F to E has the n-intersection property in
the corresponding space K(F, E) of compact operators for all n, or equivale
ntly, F(F, E) is an ideal in K(F, E).