On close-to-scalar one-parameter cosine families (Q2345489)

Let \(\mathbf{A}\) be a complex Banach algebra with unit e. Let \(a\in\mathbf{A}\) be invertible and \(\sup_{n\in\mathbb{Z}}\|a^n\|<+\infty\). Assume that \(\sigma(a)=\{\lambda_1,\dots,\lambda_n\}\subset\mathbb T\), where \(\mathbb T\subset\mathbb C\) the unit circle and \(\lambda_k\neq\lambda_l\), \(k\neq l\). It is proved that there exist idempotents \(p_1,\dots,p_n\in\mathbf A\) such that \(\sum_{k=1}^np_k=e\), \(p_kp_l=0\) and \(a=\sum_{k=1}^n\lambda_kp_k\). Let \(\{c(t)\}_{t\in\mathbb{R}}\) be a cosine family in the algebra \(\mathbf{A}\), i.e., \(2c(s)c(t)=c(s-t)+c(s+t)\). Let for some \(a\in\mathbb R\) \[ \sup_{t\in\mathbb R}\|c(t)-(\cos at)e\|<\frac{8}{3\sqrt{3}}. \] Then \(c(t)=(\cos at)e\) for all \(t\in\mathbb R\). The constant \(8/3\sqrt{3}\) is optimal and cannot be replaced by a larger number.