Convolution-type functional equations (Q6887941)

Denote the space of continuous complex-valued functions on a commutative locally compact topological group \(G\) by \(\mathscr{C}(G)\). This is a locally convex topological vector space endowed with the topology of compact convergence, and its dual is the space of compactly supported complex Borel measures \(\mathscr{M}_C(G)\). Define the convolution on \(\mathscr{M}_C(G)\) by\N\[\N\int f \, d(\mu\ast\nu) := \int\!\!\int f(x+y)\, d\mu(x)\, d\nu(y), \quad \text{where } f\in\mathscr{C}(G) \text{ and } \mu,\nu\in\mathscr{M}_C(G).\N\]\NWith this convolution, the linear operations, and the weak\(^*\)-topology, \(\mathscr{M}_C(G)\) is a topological algebra referred to as the measure algebra, and the space \(\mathscr{C}(G)\) is a module over the measure algebra under the action\N\[\N(\mu\ast f)(x) := \int f(x-y)\, d\mu(y).\N\]\NBy systems of (homogeneous) convolution-type functional equations we mean systems of the form\N\[\N\mu\ast f = 0 \qquad (\mu\in\Gamma),\N\]\Nwhere \(\Gamma\) is a set of compactly supported complex Borel measures. Clearly, several types of classical functional equations (and systems thereof) are of convolution type. Moreover, as the present survey convincingly demonstrates, the classical methods used in the early theory of functional equations can be replaced by more advanced and more effective general methods from ring theory and harmonic analysis.\N\NThe presented results form a complete and self-contained theory, and most of them are contributions of the author. They are of interest not only in the field of functional equations but also in approximation theory. In particular, these results extend the statement of, and clarify the deeper algebraic reasons behind, the fundamental result of \textit{L. Schwartz} [Ann. Math. (2) 48, 857--929 (1947; Zbl 0030.15004)].