Commutativity criteria for real Banach algebras (Q1123359)

For complex Banach algebras commutativity criteria are well-known (C. Le Page, R. A. Hirschfeld and W. Żelazko). The object of this paper is to investigate the more general situation of real algebras. Using boundedness assumptions on the sine-function a general result for linear continuous operators is proved, which has several applications to real Banach algebras. The main result is that a real, skew-hermitian, semi- simple \(Banach^*\) algebra with unit is commutative if the sine-function is bounded on \((A_ H\cup A^ 2_ J)\), where \(A_ H\) denote the hermitian and \(A_ J\) the skew-hermitian part of A, and if the Le Page- condition \((\| xy\| \leq k\| yx\|\) for all \(x,y\in A)\) holds. Two simple counter-examples show that the Le Page-condition and the boundedness of the sine-function on \(A^ 2_ J\) cannot be omitted.