This paper studies derivations, endomorphisms, automorphisms, and various related questions about certain Banach algebras, B, which are continuously embedded in the space of complex formal power series in the indeterminate z.

Contains papers presented at the conference on Banach Algebras and Several Complex Variables held June 21-24, 1983, to honor Professor Charles E Rickart upon his retirement from Yale University. This work includes articles that present advances in topics related to Banach algebras, function algebras and infinite dimensional holomorphy.

This is the first volume of a two volume set that provides a modern account of basic Banach algebra theory including all known results on general Banach *-algebras. This account emphasizes the role of *-algebraic structure and explores the algebraic results that underlie the theory of Banach algebras and *-algebras. The first volume, which contains previously unpublished results, is an independent, self-contained reference on Banach algebra theory. Each topic is treated in the maximum interesting generality within the framework of some class of complex algebras rather than topological algebras. Proofs are presented in complete detail at a level accessible to graduate students. The book contains a wealth of historical comments, background material, examples, particularly in noncommutative harmonic analysis, and an extensive bibliography. Volume II is forthcoming.

In these notes the abstract theory of analytic one-parameter semigroups in Banach algebras is discussed, with the Gaussian, Poisson and fractional integral semigroups in convolution Banach algebras serving as motivating examples. Such semigroups are constructed in a Banach algebra with a bounded approximate identity. Growth restrictions on the semigroup are linked to the structure of the underlying Banach algebra. The Hille-Yosida Theorem and a result of J. Esterle's on the nilpotency of semigroups are proved in detail. The lecture notes are an expanded version of lectures given by the author at the University of Edinburgh in 1980 and can be used as a text for a graduate course in functional analysis.