Zeroes of real polynomials on \(C(K)\) spaces (Q2381904)

The author investigates the following conjecture stated in [\textit{C. Boyd, R. Ryan, I. Zalduendo} and the reviewer, Positivity 7, No. 4, 285--295 (2003; Zbl 1044.46036)]. Let \(X\) be a real Banach space that cannot be linearly and continuously injected into a Hilbert space. Then the zero set of every continuous \(2\)-homogeneous polynomial \(P:X \to \mathbb R\) contains a non-separable subspace. When \(X = C(K),\) it is shown that either \(C(K)\) admits a positive definite continuous \(2\)-homogeneous real-valued polynomial or every continuous \(2\)-homogeneous real-valued polynomial vanishes on a non-separable closed linear subspace. Also, \(C(K)\) contains an isometric copy of \(c_0({\Gamma})\) for some uncountable set \(\Gamma\) if and only if \(K\) does not satisfy the countable chain condition, which in turn is equivalent to the fact that there is a continuous linear injection from \(c_0({\Gamma}) \to C(K).\) Among other results, the author shows the equivalence of the following assertions: \(K\) does not carry a positive measure; \(C(K)\) cannot be injected into Hilbert space; the zero set of every \(2\)-homogeneous polynomial on \(X\) contains a non-separable subspace. The reader is referred to a related, interesting paper by \textit{A. Avilés} and \textit{S. Todorcevic} [J. Math. Anal. Appl. 350, No. 2, 427--435 (2009; Zbl 1391.46056)] where, among other things, it is shown that it can occur that there are polynomials on \(\ell_1({\Gamma})\) (\(\Gamma\) uncountable) whose every zero-subspace is separable.