TY - JOUR

T1 - Discontinuous homomorphisms from non-commutative Banach algebras

AU - Dales, H.G.

AU - Runde, Volker

PY - 1997/7

Y1 - 1997/7

N2 - In the 1970s, a question of Kaplansky about discontinuous homomorphisms from certain commutative Banach algebras was resolved. Let A be the commutative C*-algebra C(Ω), where Ω is an infinite compact space. Then, if the continuum hypothesis (CH) be assumed, there is a discontinuous homomorphism from C(Ω) 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 into a Banach algebra whenever the character space ΦA of A is infinite [3, Theorem 3] and also whenever there is a non-maximal, prime ideal P in A such that ∣A/P∣=2ℵ0 [4, 8]. (It is an open question whether or not every infinite-dimensional, commutative Banach algebra A satisfies this latter condition.)

AB - In the 1970s, a question of Kaplansky about discontinuous homomorphisms from certain commutative Banach algebras was resolved. Let A be the commutative C*-algebra C(Ω), where Ω is an infinite compact space. Then, if the continuum hypothesis (CH) be assumed, there is a discontinuous homomorphism from C(Ω) 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 into a Banach algebra whenever the character space ΦA of A is infinite [3, Theorem 3] and also whenever there is a non-maximal, prime ideal P in A such that ∣A/P∣=2ℵ0 [4, 8]. (It is an open question whether or not every infinite-dimensional, commutative Banach algebra A satisfies this latter condition.)

U2 - 10.1112/S0024609397002981

DO - 10.1112/S0024609397002981

M3 - Journal article

VL - 29

SP - 475

EP - 479

JO - Bulletin of the London Mathematical Society

JF - Bulletin of the London Mathematical Society

SN - 0024-6093

IS - 4

ER -