Graph Douglas algebras (Q976549)

In the classical setting, a Douglas algebra is any norm closed algebra between \(H^{\infty}\) and \(L^{\infty}(\mathbb{T})\). The standard construction of an arbitrary Douglas algebra is to let \(\Sigma\) be some semigroup of inner functions in \(H^{\infty}\). The Douglas algebra \(\mathfrak{U}_{\Sigma}\) is the norm closure of the set \(\{\varphi\overline{\psi}:\varphi\in H^\infty, \psi\in \Sigma\}\). Note that this set forms an algebra since \(L^\infty\) is commutative and \(\Sigma\) is a semigroup. In [\textit{S.-Y.\thinspace Chang}, ``A characterization of Douglas subalgebras'', Acta Math.\ 137, 81--89 (1976; Zbl 0332.46035)] and [\textit{D.\,Marshall}, ``Subalgebras of \(L^\infty\) containing \(H^\infty\)'', Acta Math.\ 137, 91--98 (1976; Zbl 0334.46061)], it was established that every norm closed algebra between \(H^\infty\) and \(L^\infty\) is of this form. In the paper under review, some generalizations of these to the operator algebras associated to directed graphs are explored. Hence, the author analyzes two extreme examples of the structure of Douglas algebras for the free semi-groupoid algebras arising from directed graphs. Concretely, he studies one first class of examples (the algebras \(\mathcal{L}_{n}\)) coming from the graphs with a single vertex, and a second one coming from cycle graphs. In the first situation, a lack of algebraic structure is shown, while in the second example, the Douglas algebras are completely described.