TY - JOUR

T1 - Normed algebras of differentiable functions on compact plane sets

AU - Dales, H.G.

AU - Feinstein, J. F.

PY - 2010/2/1

Y1 - 2010/2/1

N2 - We investigate the completeness and completions of the normed algebras (D (1)(X), ‖ · ‖) for perfect, compact plane sets X. In particular, we construct a radially self-absorbing, compact plane set X such that the normed algebra (D (1)(X), ‖ · ‖) is not complete. This solves a question of Bland and Feinstein. We also prove that there are several classes of connected, compact plane sets X for which the completeness of (D (1)(X), ‖ · ‖) is equivalent to the pointwise regularity of X. For example, this is true for all rectifiably connected, polynomially convex, compact plane sets with empty interior, for all star-shaped, compact plane sets, and for all Jordan arcs in ℂ.In an earlier paper of Bland and Feinstein, the notion of an F -derivative of a function was introduced, where F is a suitable set of rectifiable paths, and with it a new family of Banach algebras D(1)F(X) corresponding to the normed algebras D (1)(X). In the present paper, we obtain stronger results concerning the questions when D (1)(X) and D(1)F(X) are equal, and when the former is dense in the latter. In particular, we show that equality holds whenever X is ‘ F -regular’.An example of Bishop shows that the completion of (D (1)(X), ‖ · ‖) need not be semisimple. We show that the completion of (D (1)(X), ‖ · ‖) is semisimple whenever the union of all the rectifiable Jordan arcs in X is dense in X.We prove that the character space of D (1)(X) is equal to X for all perfect, compact plane sets X, whether or not (D (1)(X), ‖ · ‖) is complete. In particular, characters on the normed algebras (D (1)(X), ‖ · ‖) are automatically continuous.

AB - We investigate the completeness and completions of the normed algebras (D (1)(X), ‖ · ‖) for perfect, compact plane sets X. In particular, we construct a radially self-absorbing, compact plane set X such that the normed algebra (D (1)(X), ‖ · ‖) is not complete. This solves a question of Bland and Feinstein. We also prove that there are several classes of connected, compact plane sets X for which the completeness of (D (1)(X), ‖ · ‖) is equivalent to the pointwise regularity of X. For example, this is true for all rectifiably connected, polynomially convex, compact plane sets with empty interior, for all star-shaped, compact plane sets, and for all Jordan arcs in ℂ.In an earlier paper of Bland and Feinstein, the notion of an F -derivative of a function was introduced, where F is a suitable set of rectifiable paths, and with it a new family of Banach algebras D(1)F(X) corresponding to the normed algebras D (1)(X). In the present paper, we obtain stronger results concerning the questions when D (1)(X) and D(1)F(X) are equal, and when the former is dense in the latter. In particular, we show that equality holds whenever X is ‘ F -regular’.An example of Bishop shows that the completion of (D (1)(X), ‖ · ‖) need not be semisimple. We show that the completion of (D (1)(X), ‖ · ‖) is semisimple whenever the union of all the rectifiable Jordan arcs in X is dense in X.We prove that the character space of D (1)(X) is equal to X for all perfect, compact plane sets X, whether or not (D (1)(X), ‖ · ‖) is complete. In particular, characters on the normed algebras (D (1)(X), ‖ · ‖) are automatically continuous.

KW - Normed algebra

KW - differentiable functions

KW - Banach function algebra

KW - completions

KW - pointwise regularity of compact plane sets

U2 - 10.1007/s13226-010-0005-1

DO - 10.1007/s13226-010-0005-1

M3 - Journal article

VL - 41

SP - 153

EP - 187

JO - Indian Journal of Pure and Applied Mathematics

JF - Indian Journal of Pure and Applied Mathematics

SN - 0019-5588

IS - 1

ER -