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For $x$ in a unital Banach algebra and $f$ holomorphic near $\sigma (x)$, the holomorphic functional calculus defineswhere $\Gamma$ winds once around the spectrum. It is a continuous unital algebra homomorphism and satisfies the spectral mapping theorem $\sigma (f(x))=f(\sigma (x))$.

If $|\lambda |>\Vert T\Vert$, write $T-\lambda I=-\lambda (I-T/\lambda )$. The Neumann series applies to $T/\lambda$, so $\lambda$ is outside the spectrum of a bounded operator. Thus $\sigma (T)\subseteq \{\lambda :|\lambda |\le \Vert T\Vert \}$ and $r(T)\le \Vert T\Vert$.

The polynomial spectral mapping theorem gives $\sigma (T^m)=\{{\lambda }^m:\lambda \in \sigma (T)\}$, and henceTaking $m$th roots and then the limit, whose existence is allowed, provesOnly this inequality is required; the reverse inequality is the additional content of the full spectral radius formula.

The factorizationhas commuting factors because both are polynomials in $T$. If ${\lambda }^n\notin \sigma (T^n)$, their product is invertible. The preceding part would then make $T-\lambda I$ invertible, contradicting $\lambda \in \sigma (T)$. ThereforeThis proves the required inclusion without assuming the full spectral mapping theorem.

An element $a$ is a Normal element of a C-star algebra if $a^{\ast }a=a{a}^{\ast }$. It is a Unitary element of a C-star algebra if $a^{\ast }a=a{a}^{\ast }=1$. Its Banach algebra spectrum iswhere $A^{\times }$ is the group of invertible elements of a Banach algebra.

For normal $a$, the continuous functional calculus is the unique unital isometric star-isomorphismwhich sends the coordinate function $z\mapsto z$ to $a$. It preserves sums, products, complex scalars and the involution: ${\Phi }_a(\overline{f})={\Phi }_a(f{)}^{\ast }$. In particular $\Vert f(a)\Vert ={\max }_{z\in {\sigma }_A(a)}|f(z)|$. The spectral mapping theorem in this setting statesThe common unit and spectral permanence for C-star subalgebras permit computing this spectrum in $A$ itself.

For unitary $u$, the C-star identity gives $\Vert u\Vert =\Vert u^{\ast }\Vert =1$. If $|z|>1$, $u-z1=-z(1-u/z)$ has a multiplicative inverse by the Neumann series. If $|z|<1$, write $u-z1=u(1-z{u}^{\ast })$ and apply the same series. Therefore ${\sigma }_A(u)$ lies on the unit circle.

For $|t|=1$, the denominator $1+\overline{\lambda }t$ is nonzero because $|\lambda |<1$. The function is consequently continuous on the spectrum, andThus $|f(t)|=1$ throughout ${\sigma }_A(u)$, so $\overline{f}f=f\overline{f}=1$ there. Applying the star-homomorphism ${\Phi }_u$ provesHence $f(u)$ is unitary. Explicitly, the same calculus giveswith the denominator's inverse also supplied by a norm-convergent Neumann series. This is the Möbius transform of a unitary element. The conjugation on $\lambda$ in the denominator is essential to the unit-modulus identity.

For a self-adjoint C-star element $a$, the following are three equivalent characterizations of a Positive element of a C-star algebra:If $a=b^2$ with $b=b^{\ast }$, the spectral mapping theorem gives nonnegative spectrum. Conversely, the continuous functional calculus applied to $\sqrt{\lambda }$ on $\sigma (a)$ gives a self-adjoint C-star element $b$ with $b^2=a$. For real $\sigma (a)$,Thus the third condition means $\sigma (a)\subseteq [0,2t]$, while the first implies the second by taking the interval $[0,\Vert a\Vert ]$. The second implies the third with $t=\Vert a\Vert$ if $a\ne 0$; if $a=0$, any $t>0$ works. This proves every equivalence.

The positive cone of a C-star algebra contains zero and is closed under multiplication by nonnegative real scalars. To verify addition without assuming that positive elements commute, put $r=\Vert a\Vert$, $s=\Vert b\Vert$ for $a,b\ge 0$. ThenIf $r+s>0$, the third characterization makes $a+b$ positive; otherwise both are zero. Hence it is a convex cone. If $a$ and $-a$ are positive, $\sigma (a)=\{0\}$ and $a=0$ by the self-adjoint spectral norm formula; therefore the cone is pointed and defines a partial order on $A_{\mathrm{sa}}$ by $h\le k$ if $k-h\in A_{+}$. It is generating because the continuous functional calculus givesFor $a\ge 0$, the spectral mapping theorem yieldsFinally, let $a\in M_2(\mathbb{C})$ be Hermitian, and write $\tau =\mathrm{tr}a$, $d=\det a$. Its two eigenvalues are real. Both are nonnegative exactly when their sum $\tau$ and product $d$ are nonnegative. The corresponding sum and product for $I-a$ are $2-\tau$ and $1-\tau +d$. Therefore the necessary and sufficient conditions for a positive contraction areIndeed, nonnegative sum and product force two real numbers to be nonnegative, including the zero-product cases. Applying this to $a$ and $I-a$ places both eigenvalues in $[0,1]$.

Let $K=\sigma (T)$ for a bounded normal operator on a nonzero complex Hilbert space. The zero Hilbert space has the trivial calculus. Take the inner product linear in its first argument. The continuous functional calculus is an isometric unital star-representation $\pi :C(K)\to \mathcal{B}(H)$ with $\pi (z)=T$. The Borel calculus will act on $B_b(K)$, the algebra of actual bounded Borel measurable functions. A quotient by null functions is introduced only after specifying the spectral measure; there is no preferred scalar measure such as plane area on $K$.

Here is a construction that also covers a nonseparable Hilbert space. For $v\in H$, the positive functional $f\mapsto ⟨\pi (f)v,v⟩$ has a finite regular Borel measure ${\mu }_v$ by the Riesz-Markov-Kakutani representation theorem. On continuous functions,Continuous functions are dense in $L^2(K,{\mu }_v)$. Hence $f\mapsto \pi (f)v$ extends to a unitary map from that space onto $H_v=\overline{\pi (C(K))v}$. This subspace reduces $T$ and $T^{\ast }$, which correspond to multiplication by $z$ and $\overline{z}$. Decompose $H$ as an orthogonal direct sum of such cyclic reducing subspaces, using maximality: a nonzero vector in the remaining orthogonal complement would generate another summand. The family need not be countable. This is the cyclic multiplication model for a normal operator.

On each summand define $f(T)$ to be multiplication by $f$, for $f\in B_b(K)$, and take their bounded direct sum. It defines a unital star-homomorphismThus $(fg)(T)=f(T)g(T)$, $\overline{f}(T)=f(T{)}^{\ast }$, and positivity of $f$ gives positivity of $f(T)$. The continuous functional calculus is recovered on $C(K)$.

Set $E(S)=\Phi (1_S)$ for a Borel subset $S$ of $K$. Then $E(S)$ is an orthogonal projection, $E(K)=I$, $E(S)E(R)=E(S\cap R)$, and disjoint countable unions add in the strong operator topology. Indeed on every multiplication summand the indicators add pointwise, and the tail squared norm is the measure of a decreasing sequence of sets tending to the empty set. Thus $E$ is a projection-valued measure, andFor $v,w\in H$, polarization gives scalar measures ${\mu }_{v,w}(S)=⟨E(S)v,w⟩$ satisfying $⟨f(T)v,w⟩=\int fd{\mu }_{v,w}$. Regularity of these finite scalar measures and uniqueness in the Riesz-Markov-Kakutani representation theorem make the projection-valued measure unique: its values on continuous functions determine all scalar measures and hence every projection. This also makes the calculus independent of the chosen cyclic decomposition.

The correct convergence assertion is bounded pointwise convergence in the strong operator topology. If $f_n\to f$ pointwise and ${\sup }_n\Vert f_n{\Vert }_{\infty }<\infty$, thenby the dominated convergence theorem. This need not be convergence in operator norm. For multiplication by $t$ on $L^2[0,1]$, the functions $1_{[0,1/n]}$ converge pointwise to $1_{\{0\}}$, their operators converge strongly to zero, but their operator norms are all one.

A Borel measurable function can vanish spectrally without vanishing pointwise. Precisely, $f(T)=0$ if and only if $E(\{|f|>\epsilon \})=0$ for every $\epsilon >0$, andThe upper norm bound follows by integrating $|f{|}^2$ against vector measures; a unit vector in any nonzero projection $E(\{|f|>C\})$ gives $\Vert f(T)\Vert \ge C$. The induced map on the quotient by these spectral-null Borel measurable functions is isometric. Every nonempty relatively open subset of $K$ has nonzero spectral projection, since otherwise a nonzero continuous function supported there would contradict faithfulness of the continuous functional calculus. This full support gives the usual continuous spectral mapping theorem, but for a Borel measurable function the exact statement is insteadIf an indicated neighborhood has zero projection, define a bounded reciprocal of $f-\lambda$ off it and zero on it; the calculus supplies an inverse. Conversely unit vectors in the nonzero projections for arbitrarily small neighborhoods give $\Vert (f(T)-\lambda )v\Vert$ arbitrarily small, contradicting invertibility. This is spectral essential range in Borel functional calculus. For example $1_{\{0\}}(T)=0$ in the multiplication model on $[0,1]$, although the pointwise range of that function is $\{0,1\}$.

Spectral projections provide reducing subspaces, and $E(\{\lambda \})H=\ker (T-\lambda I)$: the squared norm of $(T-\lambda )v$ is $\int |z-\lambda {|}^{2}d{\mu }_v$. In finite dimension the calculus is simply $f(T)={\sum }_{j}f({\lambda }_j)P_j$, the sum over eigenspaces. In general it also permits discontinuous cuts and Borel choices of square roots, such as $s(z)=|z{|}^{1/2}{e}^{i\mathrm{Arg}(z)/2}$ with $s(0)=0$, giving a normal operator $s(T)$ with $s(T{)}^2=T$ even when a continuous scalar branch is unavailable.

Any bounded operator commuting with both $T$ and $T^{\ast }$ commutes with their continuous functional calculus and with all $E(S)$. To justify the latter, regularity approximates $1_S$ by uniformly bounded continuous functions in the $L^2$ norms of any finite list of vector measures; the resulting net converges strongly to $E(S)$. Thus the Borel calculus lies in the Von Neumann algebra generated by $T$. On a separable Hilbert space, a countable dense list of vectors gives a controlling measure $\mu ={\sum }_j{2}^{-j}{\mu }_{v_j}/(1+\Vert v_j{\Vert }^2)$; spectral-null sets are exactly its null sets, and the range is the represented $L^{\infty }(K,\mu )$, equal to that Von Neumann algebra. Without separability this last equality is not automatic: for the diagonal operator with one eigenvector for each $t\in [0,1]$, the generated Von Neumann algebra has arbitrary bounded diagonal functions, while the original Borel calculus has Borel diagonal functions. The spectral-measure construction and the strong convergence theorem themselves require no separability. This distinguishes the Borel functional calculus for a normal operator from its continuous predecessor without confusing pointwise functions, spectral equivalence classes and topological closure.

Now $B=\overline{\mathbb{C}[1,x]}$. Let $U$ be a bounded component of ${\rho }_A(x)$ and $\lambda \in U$. Its boundary lies in ${\sigma }_A(x)$: an open disk about a boundary point in the algebra resolvent set would meet $U$ and would belong to the same component, contradicting boundary membership. The maximum modulus principle on the bounded domain $U$ therefore gives, for every complex polynomial $p$,Here spectral mapping theorem follows by factoring $p(z)-\mu$: its commuting factors are invertible exactly when every root avoids the Banach algebra spectrum.

The rule $p(x)\mapsto p(\lambda )$ is well-defined by the displayed bound, multiplicative and bounded on the dense polynomial subalgebra. It extends to a unital character ${\phi }_{\lambda }$ on $B$. Since ${\phi }_{\lambda }(\lambda 1-x)=0$, that element cannot have an inverse in $B$. Thus $U\subseteq {\sigma }_B(x)$. Together with part (iii), this proves that the Banach algebra spectrum of a polynomial-generated Banach subalgebra is exactly the original Banach algebra spectrum with all its bounded complementary components filled in.

A C-star algebra is a complex Banach algebra with a conjugate-linear involution satisfying $(ab{)}^{\ast }=b^{\ast }{a}^{\ast }$ and $\Vert a^{\ast }a\Vert =\Vert a{\Vert }^2$. The inequality $\Vert a{\Vert }^2\le \Vert a^{\ast }\Vert \Vert a\Vert$, and then the same inequality for $a^{\ast }$, show that the involution is isometric. In a nonzero unital C-star algebra, the identity has norm one.

For a Hermitian algebra element $h$, the exponential $e^{ith}$ is unitary for real $t$ and has norm one. If $\lambda \in \sigma (h)$, then $e^{it\lambda }\in \sigma (e^{ith})$: factoring $e^{itz}-e^{it\lambda }=(z-\lambda )q(z)$ with entire $q$ proves this, since the evaluated factors commute. Hence $|e^{it\lambda }|\le 1$ for all positive and negative $t$, forcing $\mathrm{Im}\lambda =0$. Thus Hermitian algebra elements have real Banach algebra spectrum.

For a normal C-star element $a$, commutation of $a,a^{\ast }$ givesThe middle equality of norms uses the C-star identity on the Hermitian algebra element $a^{\ast }a$. Iterating along powers $2^n$ and applying the spectral radius formula proves $r(a)=\Vert a\Vert$.

Now suppose $A$ is commutative and unital. Every maximal ideal is closed: if it were dense, it would contain an element within distance less than one of the identity, hence an invertible element by the Neumann series, which is impossible for a proper ideal. Its quotient is a complex Banach division algebra and is therefore $\mathbb{C}$ by the Gelfand-Mazur theorem. Maximal ideals thus give characters. Conversely, every character $\phi$ satisfies $\phi (a)\in {\sigma }_A(a)$, because applying it to an inverse of $a-\phi (a)1$ would give a contradiction. Characters are consequently contractive. The converse spectral inclusion follows by placing the proper ideal generated by $a-\lambda 1$ in a maximal ideal. We have provedThe character space ${\Phi }_A$ is a weak-star closed subset of the dual unit ball, characterized by $\phi (1)=1$ and $\phi (ab)=\phi (a)\phi (b)$. The Banach-Alaoglu theorem makes it compact Hausdorff. Define the Gelfand transform by $\hat{a}(\phi )=\phi (a)$. For Hermitian $h$, its values are real; writing $a=h+ik$ with both terms Hermitian shows $\widehat{a^{\ast }}=\overline{\hat{a}}$. In the commutative algebra every element is normal, soThe transform is therefore an isometric unital star-homomorphism and has closed range in $C({\Phi }_A)$. Its range separates characters by their definition and is closed under complex conjugation. The complex Stone-Weierstrass theorem makes that range dense, hence equal to $C({\Phi }_A)$. This proves the Commutative Gelfand--Naimark theorem:For a nonunital C-star algebra, its C-star unitization can be constructed without assuming an operator representation on a Hilbert space. Represent $A$ by left multiplication on itself, which is isometric because testing $L_a$ on $a^{\ast }/\Vert a\Vert$ gives $\Vert L_a\Vert =\Vert a\Vert$. Adjoin the identity operator and set $\Vert z\Vert =\Vert L_z\Vert$. For $z=a+\lambda 1$ and $b\in A$, the C-star identity in $A$ gives $\Vert zb{\Vert }^2=\Vert b^{\ast }{z}^{\ast }zb\Vert \le \Vert b\Vert \Vert L_{z^{\ast }z}b\Vert$. Consequently $\Vert L_z{\Vert }^2\le \Vert L_{z^{\ast }z}\Vert \le \Vert L_{z^{\ast }}\Vert \Vert L_z\Vert$. Applying this also to $z^{\ast }$ proves that the new involution is isometric and that its C-star identity holds. The extension by the identity is complete, since the isometric image of $A$ is closed and one adjoins just one dimension. Apply the unital result to a commutative $A^{+}$; the character $\infty$ given by $a+\lambda 1\mapsto \lambda$ has kernel $A$. Under the isomorphism, this kernel consists of the continuous functions vanishing at $\infty$. Thus $A\cong C_0({\Phi }_A)$ in the nonunital case, with locally compact character space ${\Phi }_A={\Phi }_{A^{+}}\setminus \{\infty \}$.

For a Hermitian $h$ in a possibly noncommutative algebra, apply this result to the commutative unital C-star subalgebra $C^{\ast }(1,h)$ in the unitization. Its Banach algebra spectrum at $h$ equals the ambient Banach algebra spectrum: both Banach algebra spectra are real, the complement of the ambient compact real Banach algebra spectrum is connected, and the resolvent-component result of Question 1 retains that whole complement in the smaller algebra. Characters of this subalgebra are determined by their values at $h$, so its character space is homeomorphic to $\sigma (h)$. We obtain the continuous functional calculus $C(\sigma (h))\to C^{\ast }(1,h)$.

Interpret ${\mathbb{R}}^{+}$ here as $[0,\infty )$. If $\sigma (h)\subseteq [0,\infty )$, apply this calculus to $t\mapsto \sqrt{t}$, obtaining a Hermitian $k$ with $k^2=h$. In a nonunital algebra this element remains in $A$ because the defining scalar function vanishes at zero. Conversely, if $h=k^2$ with $k=k^{\ast }$, spectral mapping theorem and the real Banach algebra spectrum of $k$ give $\sigma (h)=\{t^2:t\in \sigma (k)\}\subseteq [0,\infty )$. Hence nonnegative Banach algebra spectrum is equivalent to being the square of a Hermitian algebra element. A strict-positive interpretation would exclude $h=0$, and would not be equivalent to the assertion about an arbitrary Hermitian square.

Finally, use the two continuous real functions $t\mapsto \sqrt{\max (t,0)}$ and $t\mapsto \sqrt{\max (-t,0)}$ on $\sigma (x)$. Their calculus values $u,v$ are Hermitian, belong to $A$ also in the nonunital case, and satisfy

Define the holomorphic function $e$ on the disconnected open set $U$ to be one on $V$ and zero on $W$. Since $e^2=e$, its holomorphic functional calculus value $p={\Theta }_x(e)$ is an idempotent. The spectral mapping theorem and the nonempty spectral intersection with $V$ show $1\in \sigma (p)$; thus $p\ne 0$. These are the Riesz projection values selecting the indicated spectral component.

Part (b) gives $p_n={\Theta }_{x_n}(e)\to p$. If $\sigma (x_n)$ avoided $V$, spectral mapping would give $\sigma (p_n)=\{0\}$. A nonzero idempotent always has $1$ in its spectrum: if $1-p_n$ were invertible, $p_n(1-p_n)=0$ would force $p_n=0$. Thus avoiding $V$ forces $p_n=0$. That is impossible eventually, since $p\ne 0$ and $p_n\to p$. Therefore $\sigma (x_n)\cap V\ne \varnothing$ eventually. This is persistence of a separated spectral component, not a claim that arbitrary individual spectral points vary continuously.

Give $\mathcal{O}(U)$ the compact-open topology, that is, uniform convergence on every compact subset of $U$. Choose a bounded finite union of polygonal domains $D$ whose closure lies in $U$, whose interior contains $\sigma (x)$ and whose boundary avoids the spectrum. Orient its boundary $\Gamma$ positively, with holes oriented negatively. It has winding number one on the spectrum and zero outside $U$. For the resolvent of an element $R(\zeta ,x)=(\zeta 1-x{)}^{-1}$ define the holomorphic functional calculus byThis is an integral of a continuous Banach space-valued function. Its value is independent of the admissible contour: the integrand is holomorphic away from the spectrum, and the difference of two such cycles has winding number zero there, so the Cauchy integral theorem applies. The vector-valued theorem follows by applying bounded linear functionals and then the Hahn-Banach theorem.

Linearity is immediate. To prove multiplicativity, choose two admissible contours with the inner domain compactly contained in the outer one, and use the resolvent identityIn the double integral for ${\Theta }_x(f){\Theta }_x(g)$, integrate the first term in the outer variable $\eta$. The Cauchy integral formula gives $g(\zeta )$. For the second term, integration of $f(\zeta )/(\eta -\zeta )$ over the inner contour is zero, since $\eta$ lies outside that inner domain. Therefore the double integral equals ${\Theta }_x(fg)$. The continuous integrands on disjoint compact contours justify exchanging the integrals.

For $f=1$ and $f=Z$, deform to a large circle and use the Neumann series $R(\zeta ,x)={\sum }_{m\ge 0}{x}^m{\zeta }^{-m-1}$. Its relevant coefficients give ${\Theta }_x(1)=1$ and ${\Theta }_x(Z)=x$. The estimateproves continuity in the stated topology.

For uniqueness, the Runge approximation theorem in the required form says that rational functions with poles outside $U$, allowing a pole at infinity, are dense in $\mathcal{O}(U)$ for uniform convergence on compact subsets. Every complex-linear unital homomorphism taking $Z$ to $x$ has prescribed values on polynomials and on $(Z-a{)}^{-1}$ for $a\notin U$: the latter value must be $(x-a1{)}^{-1}$. Hence its rational-function values are prescribed. Continuity and Runge approximation force its values on every holomorphic function. This proves continuity and uniqueness of holomorphic functional calculus, including disconnected $U$.

To prove the spectral mapping theorem, first suppose $\mu \notin f(\sigma (x))$. On a smaller open neighborhood $U^{\prime }$ of the spectrum, $f-\mu$ has no zeros, so $h=1/(f-\mu )$ is holomorphic there. The contour definition is compatible with this restriction. Multiplicativity gives ${\Theta }_x(f)-\mu 1$ the inverse ${\Theta }_x(h)$, excluding $\mu$ from its spectrum.

Conversely, if $\mu =f(\lambda )$ for $\lambda \in \sigma (x)$, write $f(z)-\mu =(z-\lambda )g(z)$, defining $g(\lambda )=f^{\prime }(\lambda )$ at its removable singularity. ThenThese two factors commute. An invertible product of commuting elements makes each factor invertible, by multiplying the inverse of the product by the other factor. That would contradict $\lambda \in \sigma (x)$. Thus

Take a nonzero complex unital Banach algebra, with identity $1$. The spectrum of an element isThe standard Banach algebra spectrum theorem states that it is a nonempty compact subset of $\mathbb{C}$, contained in the disk $|\lambda |\le \Vert a\Vert$. Conversely, every nonempty compact set $K\subseteq \mathbb{C}$ occurs: in the Banach algebra $C(K)$, the coordinate function $a(z)=z$ has Banach algebra spectrum exactly $K$, since $\lambda -a$ has a continuous reciprocal precisely when $\lambda \notin K$. Thus the possible Banach algebra spectra are exactly the nonempty compact subsets of the complex plane.

For a nonconstant polynomial $p$, factor $p(z)-\lambda =c{\prod }_{j=1}^n(z-z_j)$ over $\mathbb{C}$. Substitution givesThese factors commute. A finite commuting product is invertible exactly when every factor is invertible: if $P={\prod }_j{x}_j$ is invertible, its inverse commutes with each $x_j$, and $x_j^{-1}=({\prod }_{k\ne j}{x}_k)P^{-1}$ is a two-sided inverse. Hence $\lambda$ belongs to the Banach algebra spectrum of $p(a)$ exactly when some root $z_j$ belongs to ${\sigma }_A(a)$, which is equivalent to $\lambda \in p({\sigma }_A(a))$. Constant polynomials give the same result directly, since ${\sigma }_A(c1)=\{c\}$. This proves the polynomial spectral mapping theorem:For a closed unital Banach subalgebra $B\subseteq A$, use the common identity $1_A\in B$. An inverse in $B$ is an inverse in $A$, so $\boxed{{\sigma }_A(b)\subseteq {\sigma }_B(b)}$. Let $\lambda \in \partial {\sigma }_B(b)$. Choose ${\lambda }_n\notin {\sigma }_B(b)$ tending to $\lambda$. Then ${\lambda }_n\notin {\sigma }_A(b)$, and $({\lambda }_{n}1-b{)}^{-1}\in B$. If $\lambda$ were outside ${\sigma }_A(b)$, continuity of inversion in $A$ would givewhere membership follows from closedness. This would make $\lambda \notin {\sigma }_B(b)$, contrary to the closed Banach algebra spectrum having its boundary inside it. Therefore $\lambda \in {\sigma }_A(b)$ and is approached by points outside that Banach algebra spectrum, provingContinuity of inversion here follows, for example, by writing a nearby element as an invertible element times $1+$ a norm-small perturbation and using the Neumann series. This is spectrum in a closed unital subalgebra.

To retain the original Banach algebra spectrum in a commutative subalgebra, take the resolvent-generated commutative algebraEvery generator commutes with $a$ and with every other generator: commuting invertible elements have commuting inverses, and their inverses commute with all elements commuting with them. commutativity persists on the algebra they generate and on its norm closure. For every $\lambda \notin {\sigma }_A(a)$, the required inverse is in $C$ by construction, so ${\sigma }_C(a)\subseteq {\sigma }_A(a)$. The inclusion for unital subalgebras gives the reverse containment. Hence $\boxed{{\sigma }_C(a)={\sigma }_A(a)}$.

Finally, the Banach subalgebra generated by one element is $D=\overline{\{p(a):p\text{ a polynomial}\}}$, and it is commutative. Put $K={\sigma }_D(a)$ and suppose its complement has a bounded connected component $U$. The boundary of $U$ lies in $K$. For $\lambda \in U$, the maximum modulus principle on a bounded domain applied to any polynomial givesHere $r_D$ is the spectral radius, and the equality uses the already proved polynomial spectral mapping theorem. Define $\chi (p(a))=p(\lambda )$. The displayed bound makes this well defined, even when two polynomials represent the same algebra element, and bounded on the dense polynomial algebra. Its continuous extension to $D$ remains linear and multiplicative, with $\chi (1)=1$ and $\chi (a)=\lambda$, so it is a character of an algebra. If $\lambda 1-a$ were invertible in $D$, applying $\chi$ to its inverse equation would give $0=1$. Thus $\lambda \in K$, contradicting $\lambda \in U$.

There are therefore no bounded complementary components. A compact subset of the plane has exactly one unbounded complementary component: everything outside a sufficiently large disk is connected, and every unbounded component meets it. Consequently $\boxed{\mathbb{C}\setminus {\sigma }_D(a)\text{ is connected}.}$

For $\lambda \ne 0$, suppose $R=(\lambda 1-ba{)}^{-1}$ exists. The identities $(\lambda 1-ab)a=a(\lambda 1-ba)$ and $b(\lambda 1-ab)=(\lambda 1-ba)b$ show, by multiplication on either side, thatFor example, multiplying on the left gives $1-{\lambda }^{-1}ab+{\lambda }^{-1}a(\lambda 1-ba)Rb=1$, and the right product gives the same cancellation. Thus invertibility of $\lambda 1-ba$ implies invertibility of $\lambda 1-ab$. Interchanging $a,b$ proves the converse. The nonzero spectra of products in opposite orders are therefore equal:In particular the requested inclusion follows. The exclusion of zero matters: for the unilateral shift operator $S$, $S^{\ast }S=1$ has Banach algebra spectrum $\{1\}$, whereas $S{S}^{\ast }=1-P_0$ has Banach algebra spectrum $\{0,1\}$.

Use the spectral definition of a Positive element of a C-star algebra: $h$ is positive if $h=h^{\ast }$ and ${\sigma }_A(h)\subseteq [0,\infty )$. We use the standard continuous functional calculus for a Hermitian element of a C-star algebra, including its real Banach algebra spectrum and the equality of its norm with its spectral radius. To prove $a^{\ast }a$ positive without assuming this as part of the definition, first establish two elementary cone facts.

If $p,q$ are positive and $s=\Vert p\Vert +\Vert q\Vert$, the continuous functional calculus gives $\Vert \Vert p\Vert 1-p\Vert \le \Vert p\Vert$ and the corresponding bound for $q$, henceSince $p+q$ is self-adjoint, every spectral value $t$ is real and satisfies $|s-t|\le s$, so $t\ge 0$. Thus the positive cone of a C-star algebra is closed under addition. It is proper: if both $h$ and $-h$ are positive, their Banach algebra spectra force $\sigma (h)\subseteq \{0\}$, and the self-adjoint norm equality gives $h=0$. It is also norm closed: if $p_n\ge 0$ converges to $p$, choose $r\ge {\sup }_n\Vert p_n\Vert$; then $\Vert r1-p_n\Vert \le r$ passes to the limit and forces every spectral value of $p$ to be nonnegative.

Now put $h=a^{\ast }a$, and form its negative part $d=\max (-h,0)$ by continuous functional calculus. Let $c=a{d}^{1/2}$. Because $d$ is a function of $h$, the scalar identity $t\max (-t,0)=-\max (-t,0{)}^2$ givesThis has nonpositive Banach algebra spectrum. The previously proved equality of nonzero product Banach algebra spectra shows that $c{c}^{\ast }$ also has nonpositive Banach algebra spectrum; it is self-adjoint, so both $c^{\ast }c$ and $c{c}^{\ast }$ are negative elements. Write $c=u+iv$, where $u=(c+c^{\ast })/2$ and $v=(c-c^{\ast })/(2i)$ are self-adjoint. Direct multiplication givesBy the spectral mapping theorem, the squares $u^2,v^2$ are positive, so their sum is positive by the cone fact above. But the same sum is negative, since both its original summands are negative. Properness forces $c^{\ast }c+c{c}^{\ast }=0$. Then $c^{\ast }c=-c{c}^{\ast }$ is both negative and positive, so $c^{\ast }c=0$, whence $d^2=0$. The C-star identity applied to the self-adjoint $d$ gives $\Vert d{\Vert }^2=\Vert d^2\Vert =0$. Thus $d=0$, provingThis establishes positivity of adjoint products from spectral positivity. It also proves positivity under congruence: for $p\ge 0$ and any $z$, write $p=r^2$ using its functional-calculus square root; then $z^{\ast }pz=(rz{)}^{\ast }(rz)\ge 0$.

For the comparison of squares, we first derive inversion reverses the order of strictly positive elements. If $0<x\le y$ with both positive and invertible, thenThe continuous functional calculus gives $k^{-1}\le 1$, because the scalar function $1-t^{-1}$ is nonnegative on $\sigma (k)\subseteq [1,\infty )$. Congruence then givesNo commutation of $x,y$ was assumed.

Next derive the square-root resolvent integral in a C-star algebra. For $s\ge 0$,For $s>0$, substituting $t=s{u}^2$ reduces the integral to $\sqrt{s}{\pi }^{-1}{\int }_0^{\infty }2/(1+u^2)du=\sqrt{s}$; for $s=0$ it is zero. For a positive element $x$, the norm of $x(t1+x{)}^{-1}$ is at most $\min (1,\Vert x\Vert /t)$. Thus the integral converges in norm, with integrable bounds $t^{-1/2}$ near zero and $\Vert x\Vert t^{-3/2}$ near infinity, uniform on $\sigma (x)$. The continuous functional calculus consequently givesPut $\alpha =a^2$ and $\beta =b^2$. The assumption $b^2-a^2\ge 0$ says $\alpha \le \beta$. For every $t>0$, inversion reverses the order of the strictly positive elements $t1+\alpha$ and $t1+\beta$. Subtracting the two square-root formulas therefore yieldsHere ${\alpha }^{1/2}=a$ and ${\beta }^{1/2}=b$ because $a,b$ themselves are positive. Every truncated integral has a positive integrand, so is positive; norm convergence and closedness of the positive cone of a C-star algebra make its limit positive. This proves order preservation by the positive square root in the required case:It is important that this argument does not factor $b^2-a^2$ as $(b-a)(b+a)$, which would be invalid for noncommuting elements.

For $p=b-a\ge 0$, apply the continuous function $t\mapsto \sqrt{t}$ on its nonnegative compact Banach algebra spectrum. The resulting element $p^{1/2}$ is self-adjoint, has nonnegative Banach algebra spectrum by continuous functional calculus, and satisfies $(p^{1/2}{)}^2=p$. Thus $b-a$ has a positive square root in a C-star algebra.

Finally, if the positive element $a$ is invertible, its compact Banach algebra spectrum is bounded away from zero. Let $\epsilon =\min \sigma (a)>0$; continuous functional calculus gives $a\ge \epsilon 1$. Since $b\ge a$, we also have $b\ge \epsilon 1$, so $\sigma (b)\subseteq [\epsilon ,\infty )$. The reciprocal function is continuous on this Banach algebra spectrum and supplies $b^{-1}$. Therefore $\boxed{a\text{ invertible}⟹b\text{ invertible}}$ under the given positivity assumptions.

Apply part (c) to the commutative unital C-star algebra $A=C^{\ast }(I,T)$, commutative because $T$ is normal. A character is determined by $z=\chi (T)$, since $T,T^{\ast }$ generate the algebra and $\chi (T^{\ast })=\overline{z}$. The spectrum identity in part (c) shows that every $z\in {\sigma }_A(T)$ occurs. Thus $X\to {\sigma }_A(T)$ is a continuous bijection from a compact space to a Hausdorff space, hence a homeomorphism. Spectral permanence identifies this spectrum with the operator spectrum.

For any complex polynomial $p$ in two commuting variables, evaluation gives $\chi (p(T,T^{\ast }))=p(z,\overline{z})$. Again using the spectrum identity and spectral permanence,This proves the requested spectral mapping theorem, including constants, and explains why conjugation in the second coordinate is required.

For $t\ne 0$, factor the matrix asThe determinant of a scalar multiple of an $n\times n$ matrix gains the scalar's $n$th power. ThusThe right side extends to a polynomial at $t=0$: multiplying ${\chi }_A(t^{-1})$ by $t^n$ removes all negative powers. Its value there is $(\det A{)}^{-1}$, since the leading coefficient of ${\chi }_A(s)=\det (A-sI)$ is $(-1{)}^n$. This equals ${\chi }_{A^{-1}}(0)$, so the identity holds at zero with that interpretation.

For the relation between eigenvalues and the characteristic polynomial,The first equivalence is the definition of an eigenvector; the others use the kernel of a linear map and the criterion for an invertible matrix to have nonzero determinant. Since ${\chi }_A$ has degree $n$, the fundamental theorem of algebra gives $n$ roots over $\mathbb{C}$ counted with multiplicity. The multiplicity of a root is its algebraic multiplicity, and the eigenspace is exactly $\ker (A-\lambda I)$; its dimension is the geometric multiplicity, which need not equal the algebraic multiplicity.

Finally, factor $p(s)=s^4-\mu$ over $\mathbb{C}$ as $p(s)={\prod }_{j=1}^4(s-{\lambda }_j)$, including repeated roots when $\mu =0$. Substituting $A$ into this polynomial is valid because the resulting factors commute. If $\mu$ is an eigenvalue of $A^4$, thenAt least one factor must be zero, so its ${\lambda }_j$ is an eigenvalue of $A$ and satisfies ${\lambda }_j^4=\mu$. Thus the reverse direction of this instance of the spectral mapping theorem isThis argument also covers $\mu =0$, when the conclusion is that $A$ is singular and has eigenvalue zero.

The definitions in a unital C-star algebra areThus a Hermitian element of a C-star algebra is self-adjoint, a Unitary element of a C-star algebra has inverse $x^{\ast }$, and a Normal element of a C-star algebra commutes with its adjoint. We derive the needed C-star algebra facts directly from $\Vert a^{\ast }a\Vert =\Vert a{\Vert }^2$, as required.

First $\Vert 1\Vert =\Vert 1{\Vert }^2$ gives $\Vert 1\Vert =1$, andgives $\Vert a\Vert \le \Vert a^{\ast }\Vert$; applying the same argument to $a^{\ast }$ gives equality. Thus the involution is an isometry. For a Unitary element of a C-star algebra $u$,The general Banach algebra spectrum bound gives $|\lambda |\le 1$ for $\lambda \in \sigma (u)$. Such a $\lambda$ is nonzero, and the inverse spectral mapping theorem gives ${\lambda }^{-1}\in \sigma (u^{-1})$, so also $|\lambda {|}^{-1}\le 1$. Hence

If $h=h^{\ast }$, the convergent exponential series and the isometric involution give $(e^{ith}{)}^{\ast }=e^{-ith}$. These commuting exponentials multiply to $1$, so $e^{ith}$ is unitary for real $t$. By the exponential spectral mapping theorem, if $\lambda \in \sigma (h)$ then $e^{it\lambda }\in \sigma (e^{ith})\subseteq \mathbb{T}$. Taking $t=1$ gives $e^{-\mathrm{Im}\lambda }=1$, soOnly general Banach algebra spectral mapping theorem and the defining C-star identity were used.

Now prove spectral permanence for C-star algebras. Let $B\subseteq A$ be the norm-closed C-star subalgebra with the same identity. The algebraic inclusion always gives ${\sigma }_A(b)\subseteq {\sigma }_B(b)$. For $h=h^{\ast }\in B$, both spectra lie in $\mathbb{R}$. If $\lambda \notin {\sigma }_A(h)$, choose nonreal ${\lambda }_n\to \lambda$. Since ${\sigma }_B(h)\subseteq \mathbb{R}$, each $({\lambda }_{n}1-h{)}^{-1}$ belongs to $B$. By continuity of inversion in a Banach algebra, these inverses converge in $A$ to $(\lambda 1-h{)}^{-1}$, which belongs to $B$ because $B$ is closed. Thus $\lambda \notin {\sigma }_B(h)$, proving equality for hermitian elements.