Approximation and convex decomposition by extremals in a $C^*$-algebra. (Q4384820)

For a unital \(C^*\)-algebra \({\mathfrak A}\) the set \({\mathfrak E}\) of extreme points of the unit ball \({\mathfrak A}_1\) consists of precisely those elements \(V\in{\mathcal A}\) which satisfy \((I- VV^*){\mathfrak A}(I- V^*V)= 0\). The authors continue their study [J. Reine Angew. Math. 469, 113-147 (1995; Zbl 0834.46041)] of the open set \({\mathfrak A}^{-1}_q= {\mathfrak A}^{-1}{\mathfrak E}{\mathfrak A}^{-1}\) of quasi-invertible elements. Part of this article deals with spectral theory and functional calculus. The principal aim is to extend the theory of regular approximation and unitary decomposition to a setting where the group \({\mathfrak A}^{-1}\) and the unitaries \({\mathfrak U}\) are replaced by \({\mathfrak A}^{-1}_q\) and \({\mathfrak E}\), respectively. The results yield a complete description of the \(\lambda\)-function \(\lambda:{\mathfrak A}_1\to [0,1]\), \[ \lambda(T)= \sup\{\lambda\in [0,1]\mid T=\lambda V+(1- \lambda)B\text{ with }V\in{\mathfrak E},\;B\in{\mathfrak A}_1\}, \] which was introduced (for arbitrary Banach spaces) by \textit{R. M. Aron} and \textit{R. H. Lohman} [Pac. J. Math. 127, No. 2, 209-231 (1987; Zbl 0662.46020)].