The Nilpotency of the Nil Metric $\mathbb{F}$-Algebras

Abstract

Let $\mathbb{F}$ be a normed field. In this work, we prove that every nil complete metric $\mathbb{F}$-algebra is nilpotent when $\mathbb{F}$ has characteristic zero. This result generalizes Grabiner's Theorem for Banach algebras, first proved in 1969. Furthermore, we show that a metric $\mathbb{F}$-algebra $\mathfrak{A}$ and its completion $C(\mathfrak{A})$ satisfy the same polynomial identities, and consequently, if $\mathsf{char}(\mathbb{F})=0$ and $C(\mathfrak{A})$ is nil, then $\mathfrak{A}$ is nilpotent. Our results allow us to resolve Köthe's Problem affirmatively for complete metric algebras over normed fields of characteristic zero.