Non self-adjoint idempotents in \(C^*\)- and \(JB^*\)-algebras (Q2465205)

The aim of this paper is to prove that every \(JB^*\)-algebra containing a non self-adjoint idempotent also contains a nonzero selfadjoint idempotent (a result which was already settled for \(C^*\)-algebras in [\textit{K. R. Goodearl}, Publ. Mat., Barc. 36, No. 2A, 637--654 (1992; Zbl 0812.46052)] and [\textit{R. Harte} and \textit{M. Mbekhta}, Stud. Math. 103, No. 1, 71--77 (1992; Zbl 0810.46062)]). The results are established through an ``almost description'' of those \(C^*\)-algebras and \(JB^*\)-algebras generated by a non-selfadjoint idempotent. The authors' related paper [J.~Funct. Anal. 248, No. 1, 107--127 (2007; Zbl 1130.46043)] culminates with a complete description of the \(C^*\)- and \(JB^*\)-algebras generated by a non-selfadjoint idempotent.