No label defined (Q4034231)

Let \(A\) be a nonassociative complex algebra and \({}^*\) a conjugate linear map, \({}^*: A\to A\), of order two. Then, \(A\) is said to be a semi-\(H^*\)-algebra if there is a structure of complex Hilbert space on \(A\) such that \(\langle xy\mid z\rangle= \langle x\mid zy^*\rangle= \langle y\mid x^*z\rangle\) for any \(x,y,z\in A\). If, in addition, \((xy)^*=y^*x^*\), for any \(x,y\in A\), then \(A\) is said to be an \(H^*\)-algebra. The paper under review surveys structural results on noncommutative Jordan \(H^*\)-algebras proved elsewhere by the author and \textit{A. Rodríguez-Palacios}. The steps followed to obtain a structure theory of the algebras under study are the following: First of all, any semi-\(H^*\)-algebra is shown to be an orthogonal sum of its annihilator and an ideal with trivial annihilator. Then, each semi-\(H^*\)-algebra with trivial annihilator is shown to be the closure of an orthogonal sum of topologically simple semi-\(H^*\)-algebras. Finally, topologically simple noncommutative Jordan semi-\(H^*\)-algebras are determined. In order to perform the last step some specific classes of algebras have to be studied thoroughly.