Multi-positive linear functionals on locally \(C^*\)-algebras (Q2568777)

The paper is devoted to a generalization of results of \textit{A. Kaplan} [Proc. Am. Math. Soc. 106, No. 2, 437--446 (1989; Zbl 0696.46047)] from \(C^*\)-algebras to locally \(C^*\)-algebras, i.e., complete involutive topological algebras whose topology is determined by a (directed) family of \(C^*\)-seminorms. The author proves that an \(n\times n\) matrix of continuous linear functionals on a locally \(C^*\)-algebra \(A\) that satisfies the generalized positivity condition induces a continuous \(*\)-representation of \(A\) on a Hilbert space, generalizing the classical GNS-representation. A necessary and sufficient condition for the irreducibility of this representation is given and a class of extreme points in the set of all continuous completely positive linear maps from \(A\) to \(M_n(\mathbb C)\) that preserve identity is determined.