Characterisations of Fourier and Fourier-Stieltjes algebras on locally compact groups (Q904033)

\textit{M. A. Rieffel} [Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 116, 32--65 (1965; Zbl 0137.10401)] gives a characterization of the group algebra \(L^1(G)\) of a locally compact abelian group \(G\) in terms of the so-called \(L'\)-inducing characters of a Banach algebra. In the paper under review, the authors extend this to the notion of noncommutative \(L'\)-inducing characters on a Banach algebra and show that a commutative semisimple Banach algebra \(A\) with the properties that every character of \(A\) is noncommutative \(L'\)-inducing and \(A\) is Tauberian and closed by conjugation is necessarily isometrically isomorphic to the Fourier algebra \(A(G)\) for some locally compact group \(G\). The most fundamental result of the paper gives a characterization of the Fourier algebra \(A(G)\) of a locally compact group \(G\) within the class of \(F\)-algebras (i.e., a Banach algebra \(A\) whose dual \(A'\) is a \(W^*\)-algebra in such a way that the identity of \(A'\) is multiplicative on \(A\)). A commutative semisimple \(F\)-algebra \(A\) such that \(A\) is Tauberian, contains a nonzero real element, and has a dual semigroup acting transitively on its spectrum is isometrically isomorphic to a Fourier algebra. Furthermore, the authors give similar characterizations of the Fourier-Stieltjes algebras. The paper is completed with a collection of intriguing open problems.