Van Vleck's functional equation for the sine (Q264146)

Let \(S\) be a semigroup, \(\tau:S\to S\) an involution of \(S\) and \(z_0\in S\) be a fixed element of the center of \(S\). The author determines the solution \(f:S\to\mathbb{C}\) of the functional equation \[ f(x\tau(y)z_0)-f(xyz_0)=2f(x)f(y)\quad(x,y\in S), \tag{1} \] which is a natural generalization of \textit{E. B. van Vleck}'s functional equation [Annals of Math. (2) 11, 161--166 (1910; JFM 41.0375.03); ibid. (2) 13, 154 (1912; JFM 43.0530.04)]. The non-zero solutions \(f:S\to\mathbb{C}\) of (1) are the functions of the form \[ f=\chi(\tau(z_0))\frac{\chi-\chi\circ\tau}{2} \tag{2} \] where \(\chi:S\to\mathbb{C}\) is a multiplicative function such that \(\chi(z_0)\neq 0\) and \(\chi(\tau(z_0))=-\chi(z_0)\). Furthermore \(f(z_0)=\chi(z_0\tau(z_0))\). Assume \(S\) is a group and \(\tau\) the group inversion. Then the conditions on \(\chi\) reduce to \(\chi(z_0^2)=-1\). In this case \(f(z_0)=1\) for any solution \(f\neq 0\) of (1). Assume now that \(S\) is a topological semigroup and \(\tau\) is continuous. Then the solution \(f\neq 0\) of (1) given by (2) is continuous if and only if \(\chi\) is continuous. Several examples are given to illustrate the results above.