On compactness of the difference of composition operators

Let φ and ψ be analytic self-maps of the unit disc, and denote by C_φ and C_ψ the induced composition operators. The compactness and weak compactness of the difference T=C_φ−C_ψ are studied on H^p spaces of the unit disc and L^p spaces of the unit circle. It is shown that the compactness of T on H^p is independent of p∈1,∞). The compactness of T on L¹ and M (the space of complex measures) is characterized, and examples of φ and ψ are constructed such that T is compact on H¹ but non-compact on L¹. Other given results deal with L^∞, weakly compact counterparts of the previous results, and a conjecture of J.E. Shapiro.