Geometrical properties of the product of a \(C^*\)-algebra (Q5940640)

The authors prove in the present paper that the product of every nonzero \(C^*\)-algebra \(A\) is the vertex of the closed unit ball of the Banach space of all continuous bilinear mappings from \(A\times A\) into \(A\). In fact, they obtain something else in terms of a numerical condition. Then they extend this result to alternative \(C^*\)-algebras and pose the question whether or not alternative \(C^*\)-algebras are the unique noncommutative \(\text{JB}^*\)-algebras whose product has the vertex property. In relation to this question, the authors exhibit an example showing that, if the vertex property is relaxed to the extreme point property, then the answer is negative.