Published online by Cambridge University Press: 26 February 2010
We prove a characterization of functions in B1/4(K)\C(K), where K is a compact metric space in terms of c0-spreading models, answering a Problem of R. Haydon, E. Odell and H. Rosenthal. Beginning with B1/4(K) we define a decreasing family (Vξ(K),║ · ║ξ)1≤ξ<ω1 of Banach spaces whose intersection is DBSC(K) and we prove an analogous stronger property for the functions in Vξ(K)\C(K). Defining the s-spreading model-index, we classify B1/4;(K) and we prove that s-SM[F]>ξ for every F∈ Vξ(K). Also we classify the separable Banach spaces by defining the c0-SM-index which measures the degree to which they have sequences with extending spreading models equivalent to the usual basis of c0. We give examples of Baire-1 functions and reflexive spaces with arbitrary large indices.