Characterizations of normal elements in rings with involution (Q1714971)

An involution \(a\mapsto a^{\ast}\) in a ring \(R\) is an anti-isomorphism of degree \(2\), that is, \((a^{\ast})^{\ast}=a\), \((a+b)^{\ast}=a^{\ast}+b^{\ast}\) and \((ab)^{\ast}=b^{\ast}a^{\ast}\). An element \(a\in R\) is said to be normal if \(a^{\ast}a=aa^{\ast}\). Some characterizations of normal elements were given by \textit{D. Mosić} and \textit{D. S. Djordjević} [Linear Algebra Appl. 431, No. 5--7, 732--745 (2009; Zbl 1186.16046)]. Motivated by these results, the present authors provide further characterizations, using solutions of certain equations.