Peripheral multiplicativity of maps on uniformly closed algebras of continuous functions which vanish at infinity (Q841440)

The authors extend one of the main results of [\textit{A.\,Luttman} and \textit{T.\,Tonev}, ``Uniform algebra isomorphisms and peripheral multiplicativity'', Proc.\ Am.\ Math.\ Soc.\ 135, No.\,11, 3589--3598 (2007; Zbl 1134.46030)] for the case of function algebras. The notion of function algebras considered in this paper is as follows. Let \(X\) be a locally compact Hausdorff space. A closed subalgebra \(A\) of \(C_0(X)\) (resp., of \(C(X)\) if \(X\) is compact) is called a function algebra on \(X\) if \(A\) strongly separates the points of \(X\) in the sense that, for every \(x,y\in X\), \(x\neq y\), there is an \(f\in A\) so that \(f(x)\neq f(y)\) and for every \(x\in X\), there is an \(f\in A\) with \(f(x)\neq 0\). Let \(A\) and \(B\) be function algebras with maximal ideal spaces \(M_A\) and \(M_B\). It is shown that for every surjective map \(T: A\to B\) such that Ran\(_\pi(TfTg)=\) Ran\(_\pi(fg)\) for all \(f,g\in A\), there exists a homeomorphism \(\Phi: M_B\to M_A\) and a continuous map \(N: M_B\to\{-1,1\}\) so that \(\widehat{Tf}(y)=N(y)\widehat f\circ\Phi(y)\) for all \(y\in M_B\). Here, \(\widehat f\) is the Gelfand transform of \(f\in A\). As a consequence, \(A\) and \(B\) are isometrically isomorphic as Banach spaces. If, in addition, \(A\) or \(B\) have an approximate identity, then \(A\) and \(B\) are isometrically isomorphic as Banach algebras.