Local isometries on spaces of continuous functions (Q2575655)

Let \(A\) be a Banach space of functions on a set \(K\) (most often compact or locally compact). A linear map \(\Phi : A \rightarrow A\) is said to be a `local isometry' if for \(a \in A\) there exists a surjective isometry \(\Psi_a : A \rightarrow A\) such that \(\Phi(a) = \Psi_a(a)\). An interesting question in analysis is to find conditions under which every such \(\Phi\) is a surjection (clearly, \(\Phi\) is an into isometry). Part of the interest stems from the fact that for several classical function spaces, one knows the description of the isometry group [see \textit{Richard J. Fleming} and \textit{James E. Jamison}, ``Isometries on Banach spaces: function spaces'' (Chapman and Hall/CRC, Boca Raton, FL) (2003; Zbl 1011.46001)]. \textit{L. Molnár} and \textit{B. Zalar} [Proc. Edinb. Math. Soc. 42, 17--36 (1999; Zbl 0930.47015)] proved that for the space of complex-valued continuous functions \(C(K)\) on a compact metric space \(K\), any `local isometry' is a surjection. A proof of this can be based on a version of Russo-Dye theorem, namely, the unit ball of \(C(K)\) is the norm-closed convex hull of its extreme points. Thus in the case of real scalars, \(K\) being a totally disconnected space is a sufficient condition for deducing the surjectivity. The result of [Molnár and Zalar, loc. cit.] has been extended recently in several directions. An extension to the case of affine continuous functions on a metrizable Choquet simplex has appeared in [\textit{T. S. S. R. K. Rao}, Expo. Math. 18, 285--296 (2000; Zbl 0979.46005)]. \textit{K. Jarosz} and \textit{T. S. S. R. K. Rao} [Math. Z. 243, 449--469 (2003; Zbl 1027.46008)] have proved this theorem for the complex function space \(C_0(K)\) for a metrizable \(\sigma\)-compact, locally compact space \(K\) (an ambiguity in the proof of the published version was removed by Jarosz and Rao, when it was pointed out in a version of the paper under review). These authors have also extended the result of [Molnár and Zalar, loc. cit.] to the case of functions on a compact metric space taking values in a finite-dimensional or uniformly convex Banach space. The present paper further contributes to this circle of ideas by proving in the case of the real scalar field for various classes of locally compact spaces \(L\), any `local isometry' on \(C_0(K)\) is surjective. The classes include totally disconnected locally compact spaces whose one-point compactification is metrizable and manifolds with and without boundary. In the third section of the paper, using a recent example due to \textit{F. Rambla} [J. Math. Anal. Appl. 317, 659--667 (2006; Zbl 1094.46009)] and the technique of ultrapowers, the author gives an example of a locally compact set \(L\) and a `local isometry' \(\Phi: C_0(L) \rightarrow C_0(L)\), \(f,g \in C_0(L)\) with \(fg = 0\) but \(\Phi(f)\Phi(g) \neq 0\). This, in particular, implies that \(\Phi^\ast\) need not map the extreme points of the dual unit ball to extreme points, thus answering a question raised in [Jarosz and Rao, loc. cit.].