Closed ideals in the Banach algebra ℓ¹(ω) when ω is ∈-star shaped (Q4354294)

Provided that the weight function \(\omega\) satisfies certain submultiplicative and decay conditions, the discrete convolution algebra \(\ell^1(\omega)\) becomes a commutative radical Banach algebra with identity adjoined. There are obvious closed ideals in \(\ell^1(\omega)\) and these are denoted standard ideals. Earlier results of Thomas, strengthened by Yakubovich and Domar, showed that if the weight \(\omega\) is star-shaped then all closed ideals are standard. Consequently, the closed ideal generated by any element \(f\) in \(\ell^1(\omega)\) must be standard. The requirement that \(\omega\) be star-shaped (essentially that \(\omega(n)^{1/n}\) must be decrease to zero) is somewhat restrictive in that no local maxima of \(\omega(n)^{1/n}\) are allowed. We generalize this previous result to apply to the larger class of \(\varepsilon\)-star shaped weights \((0<\varepsilon\leq 1)\) which allow such local maxima. If \(f\) is a non-zero element on \(\ell^1(\omega)\) we let the integer \(\alpha(f)= k_0\) denote the index of its first nonzero term. We introduce the concept of an \(\varepsilon\)-peak point for \(k_0\). If \(\varepsilon=1\) then \(\omega\) is star-shaped in the usual sense and there are an infinite number of 1-peak points for any \(k_0\). Although this latter fact may fail if \(0<\varepsilon<1\), if \(\omega(n)^{1/n}\) tends to zero sufficiently quickly (dependent on \(k_0\) and \(\varepsilon\)), there will always be an infinite number of \(\varepsilon\)-peak points for \(k_0\). Our main result is that if \(\omega\) is an \(\varepsilon\)-star shaped weight, if \(f\) is a non-zero element of \(\ell^1(\omega)\), if \(\alpha(f)=k_0\), and if the number of \(\varepsilon\)-peak points for \(k_0\) is infinite, then the closed ideal generated by \(f\) is standard.