Single elements in Banach algebras (Q697430)

The main result of the paper characterizes unital Banach algebras which are isometrically isomorphic to quasitriangular algebras of operators on a Hilbert space. The characterization in question is based upon the concept of a single element of a Banach algebra \(A\), i.e., an element \(s\) such that the condition \(asb= 0\), \(a,b\in A\), implies either \(as=0\) or \(sb=0\), and upon a determination of an involution on a closed subalgebra \(B\) of \(A\) making \(B\) a \(C^*\)-algebra.