Submaximal Function Algebras
Submaximal Function Algebras
Loading...
Files
Publication or External Link
Date
1971
Authors
Van Meter, Garrett Oliver II
Advisor
Gulick, Denny
Citation
DRUM DOI
Abstract
Let X be a compact Hausdorff space. A function
algebra on X is a complex Banach subalgebra of C(X) which
separates the points of X and contains the constants. Moreover,
a function algebra on X is maximal if it is contained
properly in no proper subalgebra of C(X). We mention that
maximal function algebras are large enough to have a goodly
amount of structure. In order that we be able to state the
ideas and results simply let us assume that for each algebra
A the underlying space X is so adjusted that A contains
no non-trivial ideals of C(X).
Generally if A is a maximal function algebra on X,
then the topological dimension of X is at most one. The
idea of this thesis is to extend the notion of maximal
function algebra so that on the one hand features of maximal
algebras would be retained, while on the other hand the
topological dimension of the underlying space could be forced
to be arbitrarily large. Thus our introduction of the notion
of submaximal function algebra.
We prove that all maximal algebras are submaximal. A
submaximal, non-maximal algebra is A(Tn), the completion of
the polynomials in n-complex variables on the unit n-torus in Cn. However, if A is submaximal on X, then each proper function algebra between A and C(X) is contained in a proper maximal function algebra on X. Moreover, we show by example that the converse to this last statement is false. If A is a submaximal function algebra on X, then every point in X has a compact neighborhood in X such that the algebra of restrictions of functions in A is dense in the continuous functions on the neighborhood. This is the (natural) analogue of the "pervasive" property of maximal function algebras.
It turns out that maximal function algebras are antisymmetric, which means that they contain no non-constant real-valued functions. This is not true in general for submaximal function algebras. However, if we render the antisymmetric property in the following way, then it holds true for submaximal algebras: if the real-valued continuous functions f1,...,fn on X along with A together generate a dense subalgebra of C(X), then the continuous real-valued functions h1,...,hn on X and A together generate a dense subalgebra of C(X), provided only that each hj is sufficiently close to fj. In addition, we show that if A is submaximal on X, then there are always exist finitely many real-valued continuous functions on X which together with A generate a dense subalgebra of C(X). Finally we discuss tensor products of submaximal algebras. In particular, we prove that under certain restrictions, the tensor product of two submaximal algebras is submaximal.