Finitely generated prime ideals in \(H^{\infty}\) and A(\({\mathbb{D}})\) (Q2266784)

Let \(H^{\infty}\) be the algebra of all bounded analytic functions in the unit disk. We prove the following conjecture of \textit{J. Kelleher} (Review, MR 55 {\#} 1075) and \textit{F. Forelli} [Divisibility problems in A(\({\mathbb{D}})\) and \(H^{\infty}\), in \textit{V. P. Khavin} (ed.), \textit{S. V. Khrushchëv} (ed.), \textit{N. K. Nikol'skij} (ed.), Linear and complex analysis, Problem Book. 199 research problems, 397-398 (1984; Zbl 0545.30038)]: A prime ideal \(P\neq (0)\) in \(H^{\infty}\) is finitely generated if and only if P is a maximal ideal of the form \[ M(z_ 0)=\{f\in H^{\infty}:\quad f(z_ 0)=0\}\quad (z_ 0\in {\mathbb{D}}). \] Our proof is based upon some deep results of K. Hoffman. Analogous results for the disk algebra A(\({\mathbb{D}})\) are obtained in an elementary way.