Support sets and Gleason parts (Q1174217)

Let \(H^ \infty\) be the Banach algebra of all bounded analytic functions on the unit disk \(\mathbb{D}\). For a point \(m\) in the maximal ideal space \(M\) of \(H^ \infty\), the Gleason part associated with \(m\) is denoted by \(P(m)\). Let \(\operatorname{supp} m\) denote the support set of the probability measure \(\mu_ m\) on the Shilov boundary which represents \(m\). By \textit{K. Hoffman} [Ann. Math. (2) 86, 74--111 (1967; Zbl 0192.48302)] either \(P(m)=\{m\}\) (in which case \(m\) is called a trivial point), or \(P(m)\) is an analytic disk i.e. there exists a continuous, bijective map \(L_m\) from \(\mathbb{D}\) onto \(P(m)\) such that \(\hat f\circ L_m\) is analytic for every \(f\in H^ \infty\). By considering the uniquely determined extension \(L_m^*\) of \(L_ m\) from \(M\) onto \(\overline{P(m)}\), defined by \(L_ m^*(x)(f)=x(\hat f\circ L_ m)\), \((x\in M, f\in H^ \infty)\), the author proves that \(\overline{P(M)}\) is a union of Gleason parts. As an important corollary he obtains the result that for every \(m\in M\), \(\overline{P(m)}\) contains a trivial point. This latter result has proven to be very useful in dealing with the ideal structure of \(H^ \infty\) and in studying division problems in Douglas algebras [see e.g. \textit{P. Gorkin} and \textit{R. Mortini}, Mich. Math. J. 38, No. 1, 147--160 (1991; Zbl 0781.46037), and several papers of K. Izuchi.] It is also shown that \(\operatorname{supp}x\subseteq \operatorname{supp}m\) for every \(x\in \overline{P(M)}\). In the case where \(x\) and \(m\) belongs to \(\overline{\Gamma}\backslash\Gamma\), where \(\Gamma\) is a \(K\)-curve or a Stolz curve approaching 1 from above, then even the converse holds; i.e. \(\operatorname{supp}x\subseteq\operatorname{supp} m\) if and only if \(x\in \overline{P(m)}\). Quite a variety of other separation theorems on support sets are obtained. The author also reproves several unpublished results of K. Hoffman. E.g. he shows that the Gleason part as well as the support set of a thin point is maximal. Throughout this interesting paper, several challenging open questions are posed; e.g. does every trivial point lie in the closure of an analytic disk different from \(\mathbb{D}\)? Also most of the results of this paper, which is part of the author's thesis from 1982, are by now 10 years old, we still highly recommend it. Readers which are interested in further research on the extended Hoffman map are referred to a paper of \textit{P. Gorkin}, \textit{H.-M. Lingenberg} and \textit{R. Mortini} [Indiana Math. J. 39, 961--983 (1990; Zbl 0703.46036)].