BANACH ALGEBRAS WITH LARGE GROUPS OF UNITARY ELEMENTS

We study unitary Banach algebras, as defined by M. L. Hansenand R. V. Kadison in 1996, as well as some related conceptslike maximal or uniquely maximal Banach algebras. We show thata norm-unital Banach algebra is uniquely maximal if and onlyif it is unitary and has minimality of the equivalent norm.We prove that every unitary semisimple commutative complex Banachalgebra has a conjugate-linear involution mapping each unitaryelement to its inverse, and that, endowed with such an involution,becomes a hermitian *-algebra. The possibility of removing therequirement of commutativity in the above statement is alsoconsidered. The paper concludes by translating to real algebrassome results previously known in the complex case. In particular,we show that every maximal semisimple finite-dimensional realBanach algebra is isometrically isomorphic to a real C*-algebra.     

Approximately Local Derivations

Certain linear operators from a Banach algebra A into a BanachA-bimodule X, which are called approximately local derivations,are studied. It is shown that when A is a C^*-algebra, a Banachalgebra generated by idempotents, a semisimple annihilator Banachalgebra, or the group algebra of a SIN or a totally disconnectedgroup, bounded approximately local derivations from A into Xare derivations. This, in particular, extends a result of B.E. Johnson that ‘local derivations on C^*-algebras arederivations’ and provides an alternative proof of it.     

Relatively weakly open sets in closed balls of Banach spaces,and real <Emphasis Type="Italic">JB</Emphasis><Superscript>*</Superscript>-triples of finite rank

We prove that, given a real JB^*-triple X, there exists a nonempty relatively weakly open subset of the closed unit ball of X with diameter less than 2 (if and) only if the Banach space of X is isomorphic to a Hilbert space. Moreover we give the structure of real JB^*-triples whose Banach spaces are isomorphic to Hilbert spaces. Such real JB^*-triples are also characterized in two different purely algebraic ways.Mathematics Subject Classification (2000): 46B04, 46B22, 46L05, 46L70Partially supported by Junta de Andalucía grant FQM 0199.Revised version: 30 September 2003     

Zel'Manov's Theorem for Primitive Jordan-Banach Algebras

The following result is well known and easy to prove (see [14,Theorem 2.2.6]). Theorem 0. If A is a primitive associative Banach algebra, thenthere exists a Banach space X such that A can be seen as a subalgebraof the Banach algebra BL(X) of all bounded linear operatorson X in such a way that A acts irreducibly on X and the inclusionABL(X) is continuous. In fact, if X is any vector space on which the primitive Banachalgebra A acts faithfully and irreducibly, then X can be convertedin a Banach space in such a way that the requirements in Theorem0 are satisfied and even the inclusion ABL(X) is contractive. Roughly speaking, the aim of this paper is to prove the appropriateJordan variant of Theorem 0.     

The Banach Space B(l2) is Primary

We prove that if A is an injective operator system on l² andP is a completely bounded projection on A then either PA or(I–P)A is completely boundedly isomorphic to A. We alsoprove that if B(l²) is linearly homeomorphic to X Y then eitherX or Y is linearly homeomorphic to B(l²). Current address: Merton College, Oxford 0X1 4JD     

C*-Algebras with Dense Nilpotent Subalgebras

In a beautiful result, Herrero (D. A. Herrero, ‘Normallimits of nilpotent operators’, Indiana Univ. Math. J.23 (1973/74) 1097–1108) showed that a normal operatoron l² lies in the closure of the set of nilpotent operatorsif and only if its spectrum is connected and contains zero.In the quest for an automatic continuity result for algebrahomomorphisms between C* -algebras, Dales showed that, if adiscontinuous algebra homomorphism : A u exists between C*-algebrasA and u, and if (A) is dense in u, then there is a C*-algebrau₂ with a dense subalgebra N u² such that every x N is quasinilpotent(see p. 685 of H. G. Dales, Banach algebras and automatic continuity,London Mathematical Society Monographs 24, Oxford UniversityPress, 2001). (A discontinuous homomorphism ₂: A₂ u₂ can bedefined with the same basic properties as , but the revisedtarget space u₂ has a dense subalgebra consisting of quasinilpotentelements.) As remarked by Dales, no such C*-algebra was thenknown; but here we present one. Indeed, using the full powerof Herrero's result, one may arrange that every x N is nilpotent.The C*-algebra is constructed in a ‘neat’ way; itis most naturally constructed as a non-separable, concrete C*-algebraof operators on a separable Hilbert space K but one can arrangethat the algebra u itself be separable if desired. 2000 MathematicsSubject Classification 47C15, 46H40 (primary), 47A10, 46L06,46L05, 46H35 (secondary).     

On boundaries on the predual of the Lorentz sequence space

Let X be the canonical predual of the Lorentz sequence space and let Au(BX) be the Banach algebra of all complex valued functions defined on the closed unit ball BX of X which are uniformly continuous on BX and holomorphic on the interior of BX, endowed with the sup norm. A characterization of the boundaries for Au(BX) is given in terms of the distance to the strong peak sets of this algebra.     

Lipschitz Images of Haar Null Sets

Let X be a separable infinite dimensional Banach space. Thereexist a closed set A X which contains a translate of any compactset in the unit ball of X, and a bi-Lipschitz homeomorphismf of X onto X so that every line in X intersects f(A) in a setof Lebesgue measure zero. 1991 Mathematics Subject Classification46B20.     

The Weiss Conjecture for Bounded Analytic Semigroups

New results concerning the so-called Weiss conjecture on admissibleoperators for bounded analytic semigroups are given. Let be a bounded analytic semigroup withgenerator –A on some Banach space X. It is proved thatif A^1/2 is admissible for A, that is, if there is an estimate then any continuous mappingC : D(A) Y valued in a Banach space Y is admissible for A providedthat there is an estimate .for , Re()<0. This holds in particular if is a contractive (analytic) semigroup on Hilbertspace. In the converse direction, it is shown that this mayhappen for a bounded analytic semigroup on Hilbert space thatis not similar to a contractive one. Applications in non-HilbertianBanach spaces are also given.     

Extensions of Isometric Dual Representations of Semigroups

Let T be a dual representation of a suitable subsemigroup Sof a locally compact abelian group G by isometries on a dualBanach space X=(X_*)^*. It is shown that (X, T) can be extendedto a dual representation of G on a dual Banach space Y containingX, and that this extension can be done in a canonical way. Inthe case of a representation by *-monomorphisms of a von Neumannalgebra, the extension is a representation of G by *-automorphismsof a von Neumann algebra.     

Products of Commuting Boolean Algebras of Projections and Banach Space Geometry

New criteria and Banach spaces are presented (for example, GL-spacesand Banach spaces with property () that ensure that the Booleanalgebra generated by a pair of bounded, commuting Boolean algebrasof projections is itself bounded. The notion of R-boundednessplays a fundamental role. It is shown that the strong operatorclosure of any R-bounded Boolean algebra of projections is necessarilyBade complete. Also, for a Dedekind -complete Banach latticeE, the Boolean algebra consisting of all band projections inE is R-bounded if and only if E has finite cotype. In this situation,every bounded Boolean algebra of projections in E is R-boundedand has a Bade complete strong closure. 2000 Mathematics SubjectClassification 46B20, 47L10 (primary), 46B42, 47B40, 47B60 (secondary).     

Self-Adjoint Operators and Cones

Suppose that K is a cone in a real Hilbert space with K = {0},and that A: is a self-adjoint operator which maps K intoitself. If ||A|| is an eigenvalue of A, it is shown that ithas an eigenvector in the cone. As a corollary, it follows thatif ||A||ⁿ is an eigenvalue of Aⁿ, then ||A|| is an eigenvalueof A which has an eigenvector in K. The role of the support-boundaryof K in the simplicity of the principal eigenvalue ||A|| isinvestigated. If H is a separable Hilbert space, it is shownthat ||A|| (A); that is, the spectral radius of A lies in thespectrum of A. When A is compact, we obtain a very elementaryproof of the Krein-Rutman Theorem in the self-adjoint case withoutassuming that K = {0}.     

Norm Estimates for Commutators of Operators

Given two self-adjoint Hilbert space operators A, B, and a continuousfunction f, we prove several inequalities of the form ||f(A)X–Xf(B)||C(f)||AX–XB|| involving the L_p-norm of the derivative f' and the Besov B^r_,1-normof f.     

Smoothness Properties of the Unit Ball in a JB*-Triple

An element a of norm one in a JB^*-triple A is said to be smoothif there exists a unique element x in the unit ball A₁^* of thedual A^* of A at which a attains its norm, and is said to beFréchet-smooth if, in addition, any sequence (x_n) ofelements in A₁^* for which (x_n(a)) converges to one necessarilyconverges in norm to x. The sequence (a²ⁿ⁺¹) of odd powers ofa converges in the weak^*-topology to a tripotent u(a) in theJBW^*-envelope A^** of A. It is shown that a is smooth if andonly if u(a) is a minimal tripotent in A^** and a is Fréchet-smoothif and only if, in addition, u(a) lies in A.     

Direct Sums of Operator Spaces

It is proved that if X and Y are operator spaces such that everycompletely bounded operator from X into Y is completely compactand Z is a completely complemented subspace of X Y, then thereexists a completely bounded automorphism : X Y X Y with completelybounded inverse such that Z = X₀ Y₀, where X₀ and Y₀ are completelycomplemented subspaces of X and Y, respectively. If X and Yare homogeneous, the existence is proved of such a under aweaker assumption that any operator from X to Y is strictlysingular. An upper estimate is obtained for ||||_cb||^–1||_cbif X and Y are separable homogeneous Hilbertian operator spaces.Also proved is the uniqueness of a ‘completely unconditional’basis in X Y if X and Y satisfy certain conditions.     

The Geometry of Convex Transitive Banach Spaces

Throughout this paper, X will denote a Banach space, S=S(X)and B=B(X) will be the unit sphere and the closed unit ballof X, respectively, and G=G(X) will stand for the group of allsurjective linear isometries on X. Unless explicitly statedotherwise, all Banach spaces will be assumed to be real. Nevertheless,by passing to real structures, the results remain true for complexspaces. 1991 Mathematics Subject Classification 46B04, 46B10,46B22.     

Discontinuous Homomorphisms from Non-Commutative Banach Algebras

In the 1970s, a question of Kaplansky about discontinuous homomorphismsfrom certain commutative Banach algebras was resolved. Let Abe the commutative C*-algebra C(), where is an infinite compactspace. Then, if the continuum hypothesis (CH) be assumed, thereis a discontinuous homomorphism from C() into a Banach algebra[2, 7]. In fact, let A be a commutative Banach algebra. Then(with (CH)) there is a discontinuous homomorphism from A intoa Banach algebra whenever the character space _A of A is infinite[3, Theorem 3] and also whenever there is a non-maximal, primeideal P in A such that |A/P|=2^₀ [4, 8]. (It is an open questionwhether or not every infinite-dimensional, commutative Banachalgebra A satisfies this latter condition.) 1991 MathematicsSubject Classification 46H40.     

Isometric embeddings of compact spaces into Banach spaces

We show the existence of a compact metric space K such that whenever K embeds isometrically into a Banach space Y, then any separable Banach space is linearly isometric to a subspace of Y. We also address the following related question: if a Banach space Y contains an isometric copy of the unit ball or of some special compact subset of a separable Banach space X, does it necessarily contain a subspace isometric to X? We answer positively this question when X is a polyhedral finite-dimensional space, c₀ or ?₁.     

Mappings Preserving Submodules of Hilbert C*-Modules

A Hilbert module over a C*-algebra B is a right B-module X,equipped with an inner product ·, · which is linearover B in the second factor, such that X is a Banach space withthe norm ||x||:=||x, x||^1/2. (We refer to [8] for the basictheory of Hilbert modules; the basic example for us will beX=B with the inner product x, y=x*y.) We denote by B(X) thealgebra of all bounded linear operators on X, and we denoteby L(X) the C*-algebra of all adjointable operators. (In thebasic example X=B, L(X) is just the multiplier algebra of B.)Let A be a C*-subalgebra of L(X), so that X is an A-B-bimodule.We always assume that A is nondegenerate in the sense that [AX]=X,where [AX] denotes the closed linear span of AX. Denote by A_X the algebra of all mappings on X of the form (1.1) where m is an integer and a_iA, b_iB for all i. Mappings of form(1.1) will be called elementary, and this paper is concernedwith the question of which mappings on X can be approximatedby elementary mappings in the point norm topology.     

Approximately spectrum-preserving maps

Let X and Y be superreflexive complex Banach spaces and let B(X) and B(Y) be the Banach algebras of all bounded linear operators on X and Y, respectively. If a bijective linear map Φ:B(X)→B(Y) almost preserves the spectra, then it is almost multiplicative or anti-multiplicative. Furthermore, in the case where X=Y is a separable complex Hilbert space, such a map is a small perturbation of an automorphism or an anti-automorphism.