No label defined (Q4523926)

The article is devoted to investigation of the algebra \(H^\infty(R)\) of all bounded analytic functions on a Riemann surface \(R\). With the pointwise operations and the norm \[ \|f\|:=\|f\|_\infty:=\|f\|_R:= \sup_{p\in R}|f(p)|, \] \(H^\infty(R)\) is a commutative Banach algebra over \({\mathbb C}\). Identifying scalars with constant functions, we asssume \({\mathbb C}\subseteq H^\infty(R)\). The maximal ideal space of the algebra \(H^\infty(R)\) is identified with the set \[ {\mathcal M}(R)=\{\phi: H^\infty(R)\to{\mathbb C}, \text{ nonzero algebra homomorphism}\}. \] The article contains several problems and results obtained by the author and by other mathematicians. The considered problems are: Problem 1. Characterize \(R\) with \(H^\infty(R)\neq{\mathbb C}\). If, for any pair of distinct points \(p\), \(q\) in \(R\), there exists a function \(f\in H^\infty(R)\) with \(f(p)\neq f(q)\), then \(H^\infty(R)\) is (point) separating. Problem 2 (The point separation problem). Is the algebra \(H^\infty(R)\) separating? Problem 3 (The open homeomorphic problem). Is \(R\) embedded in \({\mathcal M}(R)\) homeomorphically? Problem 4 (The corona problem). Is \(R\) dense in \({\mathcal M}(R)\)? Problem 5 (The isomorphic problem). If \(H^\infty(R_1)\cong H^\infty(R_1)\) as Banach algebras, then \(\widetilde{R_1}\cong\widetilde{R_2}\) as Riemann surfaces? (here \(\widetilde{R_1}\) and \(\widetilde{R_2}\) are Royden's resolutions constructed for \(H^\infty(R_1)\) and \(H^\infty(R_2)\) respectively [see \textit{H. L. Royden}, Acta Math. 114, 113-142 (1965; Zbl 0146.30501)]. The article contains several examples illustrating applications of the main results and some effects like the Myrberg phenomenon. One can consider this article also as a review of methods and results obtained in this area. For the entire collection see [Zbl 0944.00047].