Operators on Orlicz sequence spaces and $Δ_2$-fundamentality

A classical result states that the Hardy--Littlewood maximal operator is bounded on an Orlicz space $L^A(\mathbb{R}^n)$ if and only if its conjugate Young function $\tilde{A}$ satisfies the $\Delta_2$-condition. The same condition also characterizes the boundedness on $L^A(0,\infty)$ of the Hardy averaging operator. We consider a discrete analogue of the problem, extended to a general interpolation framework. We offer several characterizing conditions for the boundedness of discrete maximal and average operators on Orlicz spaces. Although the principal result is as expected, for its proof some new techniques have to be developed. To this end, we introduce a new notion of the so-called $\Delta_2$-fundamental sequence, and give its interesting characterization by a simple condition involving only a limes superior of the ratio of two subsequent terms. We also prove a dual statement concerning operators of Copson type.