Holomorphy rings and the archimedean Positivstellensatz (Q1275216)

This well-written paper generalizes various results of \textit{E. Becker} and \textit{V. Powers} [J. Reine Angew. Math. 480, 71-109 (1996; Zbl 0922.12003)] on holomorphy rings, of Schmüdgen-Wörmann on the moment problem and the Positivstellensatz, and of Mahé on Pythagoras numbers of commutative rings. The author introduces the notions of ``totally archimedean ring'' and ``iterated holomorphy ring''. -- One of the main results reads: Theorem 4.3: Let \(k\) be a totally archimedean field, let \(A\) be a totally archimedean commutative \(k\)-algebra of finite type, let \(f\in A\) be strictly positive on \(\text{Spec}_rA\) (the real spectrum of \(A)\). Then \(f\in\sum A^2\). The paper also contains several illuminating examples and counter-examples, and some open problems.