Let $H$ be the quaternions algebra. An $H^{*}$ algebra is a normed ring $A$ which is simultaneously a unital left $H$ module and has an involution $*$ with the following properties:
$\forall \lambda \in H, a,b \in A$
1.$\;\lambda(ab)=(\lambda a)b$
$\; \parallel ab\parallel \leq \parallel a \parallel \parallel b \parallel,\;\;\; \parallel \lambda a\parallel=\parallel \lambda \parallel \parallel a\parallel$
$\;(ab)^{*}=b^{*}a^{*}$
4.$\;\;\parallel ab\parallel \leq \parallel a \parallel \parallel b \parallel$
$\;\; \parallel aa^{*} \parallel= \parallel a \parallel^{2}$
(If A is unital) $\lambda 1 \lambda' 1= \lambda \lambda' 1$
There is a natural definition of spectrum of an element $a\in A$ (as a subset of $H$). There is also a natural definition of morphism and isomorphisms between two $H^{*}$ algebras.
Example: For a compact Hausdorff space $X$ put $A=H(X)=$ The space of all continuous $f:X \to H$ with obvious structures
Questions:
- Is it true to say that the spectrum is always non empty and compact?
Is it true to say that the spectrum is always non empty and compact?
Is it true to say that two compact space $X$ and $Y$ are homeomorphic if and only if $H(X) \simeq H(Y)$?
- Is it true to say that two compact space $X$ and $Y$ are homeomorphic if and only if $H(X) \simeq H(Y)$?
The motivation for this question is that we search for an alternative proof for the Borsuk Ulam theorem for $f;S^{4} \to \mathbb{R}^{4} \simeq H$ via consideration of a $\mathbb{Z}/2\mathbb{Z}$ graded structure for $H(S^{4})$. see the following related post
Banach algebraic proof of the Borsuk Ulam theorem
Edit: According to the answer of Andre Henriques we ask:
- Assume that $A$ is a real $C^{*}$ algebra which contains the Quaternions $H$. Under what algebraic conditions, $A$ is in the form $H(X)$=The space of continuous functions $f:X \to H$ for some compact Hausdorff $X$?