Reducibility in A_R(K), C_R(K), and A(K)

http://dx.doi.org/10.4153/CJM-2010-025-9
Canad. J. Math. 62(2010), 646-667

  Published:2009-12-04
 Printed: Jun 2010

Let $K$ denote a compact real symmetric subset of $\mathbb{C}$ and let $A_{\mathbb R}(K)$ denote the real Banach algebra of all real symmetric continuous functions on $K$ that are analytic in the interior $K^\circ$ of $K$, endowed with the supremum norm. We characterize all unimodular pairs $(f,g)$ in $A_{\mathbb R}(K)^2$ which are reducible. In addition, for an arbitrary compact $K$ in $\mathbb C$, we give a new proof (not relying on Banach algebra theory or elementary stable rank techniques) of the fact that the Bass stable rank of $A(K)$ is $1$. Finally, we also characterize all compact real symmetric sets $K$ such that $A_{\mathbb R}(K)$, respectively $C_{\mathbb R}(K)$, has Bass stable rank $1$.