Orthogonally additive polynomials over \(C(K)\) are measures. A short proof (Q866836)

A \(k\)-homogeneous polynomial \(P:C(K) \to \mathbb K\) is called orthogonally additive if \(P(u + v) = P(u) + P(v)\) whenever \(u, v \in C(K)\) and \(uv = 0.\) The authors provide the third and simplest proof of the following theorem: For such a polynomial \(P\) on \(C(K),\) there is a regular Borel measure \(\mu\) on \(K\) such that \(P(u) = \int_K u^k \,d\mu\) for every \(u \in C(K).\) Earlier demonstrations of this result were given by \textit{D.\,Pérez-García} and \textit{I.\,Villanueva} [J.~Math.\ Anal.\ Appl.\ 306, No.\,1, 97--105 (2005; Zbl 1076.46035)] and by \textit{Y.\,Benyamini, S.\,Lassalle}, and \textit{J.\,G.\thinspace Llavona} [Bull.\ Lond.\ Math.\ Soc.\ 38, No.\,3, 459--469 (2006; Zbl 1110.46033)]. The ingredients of the present argument include a linearization result due to \textit{D.\,Carando} and \textit{I.\,Zalduendo} [Proc.\ Am.\ Math.\ Soc.\ 127, 241--250 (1999; Zbl 0908.46031)] and the canonical result about the extension of a polynomial to the bidual [\textit{R.\,Aron} and \textit{P.\,Berner}, Bull.\ Soc.\ Math.\ Fr.\ 106, 3--24 (1978; Zbl 0378.46043)].