A Peak Point Theorem for Uniform Algebras on Real-Analytic Varieties

Abstract

It was once conjectured that if $A$ is a uniform algebra on its maximal ideal space $X$, and if each point of $X$ is a peak point for $A$, then $A=C(X)$. This peak-point conjecture was disproved by Brian Cole in 1968. Here we establish a peak-point theorem for uniform algebras generated by real-analytic functions on real-analytic varieties, generalizing previous results of the authors and John Wermer.