# multiplicative linear functional

## 1 Definition

Let $\mathcal{A}$ be an algebra over $\mathbb{C}$.

A multiplicative linear functional is an nontrivial algebra homomorphism $\phi:\mathcal{A}\longrightarrow\mathbb{C}$, i.e. $\phi$ is a non-zero linear functional such that $\;\phi(x\cdot y)=\phi(x)\cdot\phi(y),\;\;\;\forall x,y\in\mathcal{A}$.

Multiplicative linear functionals are also called of $\mathcal{A}$.

## 2 Properties

• If $\phi$ is a multiplicative linear functional in a Banach algebra $\mathcal{A}$ over $\mathbb{C}$ then $\phi$ is continuous. Moreover, if $\mathcal{A}$ has an identity element then $\|\phi\|=1$.

• Suppose $\mathcal{A}$ is a Banach algebra over $\mathbb{C}$. The set of multiplicative linear functionals in $\mathcal{A}$ is a locally compact Hausdorff space in the weak-* topology. Moreover, this set is compact if $\mathcal{A}$ has an identity element.

• Suppose $\mathcal{A}$ is a commutative Banach algebra over $\mathbb{C}$ with an identity element. There is a bijective correspondence between the set of maximal ideals in $\mathcal{A}$ and the set of multiplicative linear functionals in $\mathcal{A}$. This correspondence is given by

 $\phi\longmapsto Ker\;\phi$
• Suppose $\mathcal{A}$ is a commutative $C^{*}$-algebra (http://planetmath.org/CAlgebra). Multiplicative linear functionals in $\mathcal{A}$ are exactly the irreducible representations (http://planetmath.org/BanachAlgebraRepresentation) of $\mathcal{A}$.

## 3 Character space of a Banach algebra

As stated above, the set of all multiplicative linear functionals in a Banach algebra $\mathcal{A}$ is a locally compact Hausdorff space with the weak-* topology. It becomes a compact set if $\mathcal{A}$ has an identity element.

There are several designations for this space, such as: the of $\mathcal{A}$, the maximal ideal space, the character space.

## 4 Examples

• Let $X$ be a topological space and $C(X)$ the algebra of continuous functions $X\longrightarrow\mathbb{C}$. Every point evaluation is a multiplicative linear functional of $C(X)$. In other words, for every point $x\in X$, the function

 $\displaystyle ev_{x}:C(X)\longrightarrow\mathbb{C}$ $\displaystyle ev_{x}(f)=f(x)$

that gives the evaluation in $x$, is a multiplicative linear functional of $C(X)$.

 Title multiplicative linear functional Canonical name MultiplicativeLinearFunctional Date of creation 2013-03-22 17:22:25 Last modified on 2013-03-22 17:22:25 Owner asteroid (17536) Last modified by asteroid (17536) Numerical id 29 Author asteroid (17536) Entry type Definition Classification msc 46H05 Synonym character (of an algebra) Related topic LinearFunctional Related topic GelfandTransform Related topic BanachAlgebra Defines character Defines maximal ideal space Defines character space