Operator algebras with contractive approximate identities (Q537717)

An operator algebra is a closed subalgebra of \(B(H)\), for a Hilbert space \(H\). It has recently been shown by the second author that any operator algebra with contractive approximate identity (cai) has a cai \((e_t)\) with \(\| 1-e_t\|\leq 1\), and even with \(\| 1-2e_t\|\leq 1\), for all \(t\) [\textit{C. J. Read}, ``On the quest for positivity in operator algebras'', J. Math. Anal. Appl. 381, No.~1, 202--214 (2011; Zbl 1235.47090)]. The authors use this result to show that there is a remarkable amount of positivity present in any operator algebra with cai. In fact, the set \({\mathcal{F}}_A\) of all elements \(x\) in an operator algebra \(A\) with the property \(\| 1-x\|\leq 1\) (\(1\) is the identity in the unique unitization of \(A\)) turns to play a role very much akin to the role of the positive cone in a \(C^*\)-algebra. The authors exploit this to generalize several results previously available only for \(C^*\)-algebras and give many other applications. Those mainly concern the structure of operator algebras and so-called operator completely positive maps between them.