Corona theorems for subalgebras of \(H^{\infty}\) (Q916973)

Denote by \(L^{\infty}\) the space of essentially bounded functions on the unit circle T in the complex plane, which are measurable with respect to arc length, and identify the algebra \(H^{\infty}\) of bounded holomorphic functions on the unit disc with a closed subalgebra of \(L^{\infty}\). Fix any closed subalgebra B of \(L^{\infty}\) which contains \(H^{\infty}\), and let C be any \(C^*\) subalgebra of \(B\cap \bar B\) which contains all invertible inner functions of B. The author shows that the Corona theorem holds for the algebra \(C\cap H^{\infty}\). The proof is based on a skillful application of the methods of \textit{S. Y. Chang} and \textit{D. E. Marshall} [Lect. Notes Math. 604, 12-20 (1977; Zbl 0364.46041)], who had proved the case when C is the smallest such algebra. At the other extreme, when \(C=B\cap \bar B\), the result was proved by \textit{C. Sundberg} and \textit{T. H. Wolff} [Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 276, 551- 581 (1983; Zbl 0536.30025)] by a more complicated method.