Uniform algebras and approximation on manifolds (Q431134)

The authors give several interesting natural generalizations of theorems of Wermer, Chirka, Izzo and Weinstock, including a generalization of Wermer's maximality theorem to \(\mathbb{C}^2\). The essential tool for the proofs is an approximation result of \textit{P. E. Manne} [``Carleman approximation on totally real submanifolds of a complex manifold'', Several complex variables, Proc. Mittag-Leffler Inst., Stockholm/Swed. 1987--88, Math. Notes 38, 519--528 (1993; Zbl 0773.32011)] concerning \(C^1\)-approximation by holomorphic functions on totally real sets. Let \(PH(\Omega)\) denote the pluriharmonic functions on a domain \(\Omega\subset \mathbb{C}^n\), and let \(\Gamma^2\) be the distinguished boundary of the bidisk \(\mathbb{D}^2\) in \(\mathbb{C}^2\). For functions \(f_1, \dots , f_k\), we denote by \([f_1, \dots , f_k]^{}_S\) the uniform algebra generated by these functions on a set \(S\). Generalizing the one-variable theorem of \textit{E. M. Čirka} [``Approximation by holomorphic functions on smooth manifolds in \(\mathbb C^n\,\)'' (Russian), Mat. Sb., N. Ser. 78(120), 101--123 (1969; Zbl 0183.35202)], the authors show: Theorem 1.1. Let \(h_j\in PH\big(\mathbb{D}^2\big)\cap C^1\big(\,\overline{\mathbb{D}^2}\,\big)\) for \(j=1, \dots , N\). Then either there exists a holomorphic disc in \(\overline{\mathbb{D}^2}\) where all the \(h_j\)s are holomorphic, or \[ [z_1, z_2, h_1, \dots , h_N]_{\overline{\mathbb{D}^2}}=C\big(\,\overline{\mathbb{D}^2}\,\big). \] Generalizing \textit{J. Wermer}'s maximality theorem [``On algebras of continuous functions'', Proc. Am. Math. Soc. 4, 866--869 (1953; Zbl 0052.12105)] to the distinguished boundary of the bidisc, they obtain: Theorem 1.2. Let \(f_j\in C(\Gamma^2)\), \(j=1,\dots , N\) with \(N\geq 1\), and assume that each \(f_j\) extends to a pluriharmonic function on \(\mathbb{D}^2\). Then either \[ \big[z_1, z_2, f_1, \dots , f_N\big]^{}_{\Gamma^2}=C\big(\Gamma^2\big), \] or there exists a nontrivial algebraic variety \(Z \subset\mathbb{C}^2\) with \(Z\cap b\mathbb{D}^2\subset \Gamma^2\), and the pluriharmonic extensions of the \(f_j\)s are holomorphic on \(Z\). For arbitrary dimensions, the following interesting result is obtained, generalizing earlier work of \textit{A. J. Izzo} [``Uniform algebras generated by holomorphic and pluriharmonic functions'', Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 339, No. 2, 835--847 (1993; Zbl 0815.46042); ``Uniform algebras generated by holomorphic and pluriharmonic functions on strictly pseudoconvex domains'', Pac. J. Math. 171, No. 2, 429--436 (1995; Zbl 0867.46040)] and \textit{B. M. Weinstock} [``Uniform approximation on the graph of a smooth map in \(\mathbb C^n\,\)'', Can. J. Math. 32, 1390--1396 (1980; Zbl 0473.32011)], under some natural hypothesis: Theorem 1.3. Let \(\Omega\subset\mathbb{C}^n\) be a polynomially convex \(C^1\)-smooth domain. Let \(h_j\in PH(\Omega)\cap C(\overline{\Omega})\) for \(j=1, \dots , N\), and assume that \[ \big[z_1, \dots , z_n, h_1, \dots , h_N\big]^{}_{b\Omega}=C(b\Omega). \] Then either there exists a holomorphic disc in \(\Omega\) where all the \(h_j\)'s are holomorphic, or \[ \big[z_1, \dots , z_n,h_1, \dots , h_N\big]^{}_{\overline{\Omega}}=C\big(\overline{\Omega}\big). \] If \(\Omega\) is strictly pseudoconvex, they can get the same result with the algebra \(\mathcal{A}(\overline{\Omega})[h_1, \dots , h_N]\) instead. In relation to Theorem 1.3, the techniques of Samuelsson and Wold also yield a short proof of a conjecture of \textit{M. Freeman} [``Some conditions for uniform approximation on a manifold'', Function Algebras, Proc. Int. Symp. Tulane Univ. 1965, 42--60 (1966; Zbl 0144.37502)] which was proved by \textit{A. J. Izzo} [``Uniform approximation on manifolds'', Ann. Math. (2) 174, No. 1, 55--73 (2011; Zbl 1232.41018)] recently (see Theorem 3.1 of the paper under review).