Some character generating functions on Banach algebras (Q1791533)

The authors prove that, if \(A\) is a unital \(C^*\)-algebra and \(\phi: A\to\mathbb{C}\) is a continuous function with the properties that \(\phi(1)=1\) and \(\phi(x)\phi(y)\in\sigma(xy)\) for all \(x,y\in A\) (here \(\sigma\) stands for the spectrum), then the formula \(\phi(\Re x)+i\phi(\Im x)\) \((x\in A)\) defines a character on \(A\) which agrees with \(\phi\) on the principal component of the invertible group of \(A\).