Extending representations of Banach algebras to their biduals (Q2305687)

Let \(\varphi\) be a representation of a Banach algebra \(A\) on a Banach space \(X\). The essential space \(X_\varphi\) of \(\varphi\) is the closed linear span of \{\(\varphi(a)x$,\, $a \in A$,\, $x \in X\)\}. Firstly, the authors give conditions so that there is an extension \(\widetilde{\varphi}\) of \(\varphi\) on the bidual (Banach) algebra of \(A\), under (the left or yet the right) Arens product; in that case, the essential spaces of \(\varphi\) and \(\widetilde{\varphi}\) agree. Based on this result, the authors deal with the complementarity of the essential spaces (with respect to representations of Banach algebras). A positive result is given when \(A\) has a bounded left approximate identity and every operator \(A \rightarrow X\) is weakly compact. Further, the authors connect the existence of representations of certain Banach algebras to that of the respective (left) multiplier algebras. In particular, they consider the case when \(X\) belongs to a class of reflexive Banach spaces, closed under complementation (of its subspaces) and \(A\) is a certain representable Banach algebra with a contractive left approximate identity. Actually, \(A\) accepts a nondegenerate isometric representation on some space like \(X\). This implies that the left multiplier algebra of \(A\) has a unital, isometric representation on a space \(X\), as before. This is also true for any \(C^\ast\)-algebra being isometrically representable on an \(L^p\)-space, \(p \in [1, \infty)\). Based, amongst others, on the latter result, the authors prove that, in the context of \(C^\ast\)-algebras \(A\), the (ring) commutativity characterizes such an \(A\) as isometrically represented on an \(L^p\)-space, \(p \in [1, \infty) \backslash \{2\}\). Moreover, for a locally compact group \(G\), the completion of \(L^1(G)\) for nondegenerate representations on \(L^p\)-spaces is called the universal group \(L^p\)-operator algebra of \(G\). Actually, the latter is universal for all contractive representations of \(L^1(G)\) on \(L^p\)-spaces. Applications of the present paper are given by the authors in [Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 371, 2207--2236 (2019; Zbl 1461.43002)].