Monotone functions on formally real Jordan algebras (Q801023)

Let A be a formally real Jordan algebra with unit e. There is a natural partial order on \(A: x\leq x'\) if x'-x is a square. One also has the relation \(x<x'\) if x'-x is in the interior of the cone of squares of A. For a real interval (a,b) let \(A(a,b)=\{x\in A;\quad ae<x<be\}.\) If f is a real-valued function on (a,b), one can in a natural way define a function \(f^ A: A(a,b)\to A\), see [\textit{H. Braun} and \textit{M. Koecher}, Jordan-Algebren (1966; Zbl 0145.260)] for details. The author proves the following Theorem. Let A be simple and of rank n. then \(f^ A: A(a,b)\to A\) is monotone (i.e. \(x\leq x'\) \(\Rightarrow\) f(x)\(\leq f(x'))\) if and only if for every choice of \(x_ 1,...,x_ n\) in (a,b) the \(n\times n\)-matrix with entries \([x_ j,x_ k]_ f=(f(x_ j)-f(x_ k))/(x_ j-x_ k)\) is non-negative definite. (For \(x_ j=x_ k\) put \([x_ j,x_ k]_ f=f'(x_ j).)\quad -\) In the special case where A is the Jordan algebra of real symmetric \(n\times n\)- matrices the theorem was proven in [\textit{K. Löwner}, Math. Z. 38, 177-216 (1934; Zbl 0008.11301)].