On spectra of algebras over ultranormed fields (Q2334351)

As is well known, the spectrum of an arbitrary element of a Banach algebra over \(\mathbb{C}\) is nonempty, a result relying on Liouville's theorem on entire functions. Since in the ultrametric case the analogue of Liouville's theorem is not true in general, the nonemptiness of the spectrum requires some supplementary conditions. Let \(A\) be a Banach algebra over a complete ultrametric field \(F\), \(G\) an extension of \(F\), and \(A_G:=A\hat{\otimes} G\) (the completion of the projective tensor product) the algebra obtained from \(A\) by extending the field of scalars from \(F\) to \(G\). The author proves that, for every unital Banach algebra over a complete ultrametric field \(F\), there exists an extension \(G\) of \(F\) which is also a complete ultranormed field such that every element of \(A_G\) has nonempty spectrum. Moreover, the ultranormed field \(G\) can be chosen algebraically closed and spherically complete.