Norm optimization problem for linear operators in classical Banach spaces

The main result of the paper shows that, for 1<p and 1<=q, a linear operator T from l_p to l_q attains its norm if, and only if, there exists a not weakly null maximizing sequence for T (counterexamples can be easily constructed when p=1). For 1<p (and q different from p), as a consequence of the previous result we show that any not weakly null maximizing sequence for a norm attaining operator T from l_p to l_q has a norm-convergent subsequence (and this result is sharp in the sense that it is not valid if p=q). We also investigate lineability of the sets of norm-attaining and non-norm attaining operators.