The first part of this monograph is an elementary introduction to the theory of Fréchet algebras. Important examples of Fréchet algebras, which are among those considered, are the algebra of all holomorphic functions on a (hemicompact) reduced complex space, and the algebra of all continuous functions on a suitable topological space.The problem of finding analytic structure in the spectrum of a Fréchet algebra is the subject of the second part of the book. In particular, the author pays attention to function algebraic characterizations of certain Stein algebras (= algebras of holomorphic functions on Stein spaces) within the class of Fréchet algebras.

The Fifth International Conference on Topological Algebras and Applications was held in Athens, Greece, from June 27th to July 1st of 2005. The main topic of the Conference was general theory of topological algebras and its various applications, with emphasis on the ``non-normed'' case. in addition to the study of the internal structure of non-normed, and even non-locally convex topological algebras, there are applications to other branches of mathematics, such as differential geometry of smooth manifolds, and mathematical physics, such as quantum relativity and quantum cosmology. Operator theory of unbounded operators and related non-normed topological algebras are intensively studied here. Other topics presented in this volume are topological homological algebra, topological algebraic geometry, sheaf theory and $K$-theory.

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.

A development of some of the principal applications of function theory in several complex variables to Banach algebras. The authors do not presuppose any knowledge of several complex variables on the part of the reader, and all relevant material is developed within the text. Furthermore, the book deals with problems of uniform approximation on compact subsets of the space of n complex variables. This third edition contains new material on maximum modulus algebras and subharmonicity, the hull of a smooth curve, integral kernels, perturbations of the Stone-Weierstrass Theorem, boundaries of analytic varieties, polynomial hulls of sets over the circle, areas, and the topology of hulls. The authors have also included a new chapter commenting on history and recent developments, as well as an updated and expanded reading list.

This volume contains the proceedings of a Symposium on Complex Analysis, held at the University of Wisconsin at Madison in June 1991 on the occasion of the retirement of Walter Rudin. During the week of the conference, a group of about two hundred mathematicians from many nations gathered to discuss recent developments in complex analysis and to celebrate Rudin's long and productive career. Among the main subjects covered are applications of complex analysis to operator theory, polynomial convexity, holomorphic mappings, boundary behaviour of holomorphic functions, function theory on the unit disk and ball, and some aspects of the theory of partial differential equations related to complex analysis. Containing papers by some of the world's leading experts in these subjects, this book reports on current directions in complex analysis and presents an excellent mixture of the analytic and geometric aspects of the theory.

This book familiarizes both popular and fundamental notions and techniques from the theory of non-normed topological algebras with involution, demonstrating with examples and basic results the necessity of this perspective. The main body of the book is focussed on the Hilbert-space (bounded) representation theory of topological *-algebras and their topological tensor products, since in our physical world, apart from the majority of the existing unbounded operators, we often meet operators that are forced to be bounded, like in the case of symmetric *-algebras. So, one gets an account of how things behave, when the mathematical structures are far from being algebras endowed with a complete or non-complete algebra norm. In problems related with mathematical physics, such instances are, indeed, quite common.Key features:- Lucid presentation- Smooth in reading- Informative- Illustrated by examples- Familiarizes the reader with the non-normed *-world- Encourages the hesitant- Welcomes new comers.- Well written and lucid presentation.- Informative and illustrated by examples.- Familiarizes the reader with the non-normed *-world.

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.