Absolute-valued algebraic algebras are finite-dimensional (Q1369277)

Let \(A\) be an absolute valued real algebra, so that \(A\) is equipped with a norm \(\| \cdot \| \) satisfying \(\| xy\| =\| x\| \| y\| \) for any \(x,y\). There appears the question of what conditions force \(A\) to be finite dimensional. The classical result by \textit{K. Urbanik} and \textit{F. B. Wright} [Proc. Am. Math. Soc. 11, 861-866 (1960; Zbl 0156.03801)] asserts that the existence of a unital element is sufficient for the algebra to be so (and isomorphic either to the algebras of real or complex numbers or the quaternions or octonions). Some other conditions have been given lately, and the paper under review is devoted to provide a new and very interesting one: it is enough that any element generates a finite dimensional subalgebra to insure the finite dimensionality of the whole algebra. The proof combines nicely both algebraic and analytic arguments.