Structure of locally convex quasi \(C^*\)-algebras (Q930635)

The structure and representation theory of the completion of a (normed) \({C^*}\)-algebra \(\mathcal{A}_0 [\| \cdot\| ]\) with respect to a locally convex topology \(\tau\) on \(\mathcal{A}_0\) ``compatible'' with the corresponding *-norm topology have been studied in previous papers of the authors. If the multiplication of \(\mathcal{A}_0\) with respect to \(\tau\) is separately continuous, the completion \(\mathcal{\widetilde{A}}_0 [\tau]\) of \(\mathcal{A}_0 [\tau]\) may fail to be a locally convex *-algebra, but may carry the structure of a quasi *-algebra. Continuing this project, the authors introduce locally convex quasi \({C^*}\)-algebras, which generalize \({C^*}\)-algebras. Examples of quasi \({C^*}\)-algebras are given and their structure is investigated.