Approximation Numbers of Identity Operators between Symmetric Sequence Spaces

We prove asymptotic formulas for the behavior of approximation quantities of identity operators between symmetric sequence spaces. These formulas extend recent results of Defant, Masty o, and Michels for identities l_pⁿF_n with an n-dimensional symmetric normed space F_n with p-concavity conditions on F_n and 1p2. We consider the general case of identities E_nF_n with weak assumptions on the asymptotic behavior of the fundamental sequences of the n-dimensional symmetric spaces E_n and F_n. We give applications to Lorentz and Orlicz sequence spaces, again considerably generalizing results of Pietsch, Defant, Masty o, and Michels.