Approximation numbers of composition operators on the Dirichlet space

Abstract

We study the decay of approximation numbers of compact composition operators on the Dirichlet space. We give upper and lower bounds for these numbers. In particular, we improve on a result of O. El-Fallah, K. Kellay, M. Shabankhah and A. Youssfi, on the set of contact points with the unit circle of a compact symbolic composition operator acting on the Dirichlet space D. We extend their results in two directions: first, the contact only takes place at the point 1. Moreover, the approximation numbers of the operator can be arbitrarily sub-exponentially small.