Maximum modulus algebras and singularity sets

Abstract

SynopsisA classical theorem of Hartogs gives conditions on the singularity set of an analytic function of several complex variables in order for such a set to be an analytic variety. A result of E. Bishop from 1963 gives an analogous condition of the maximal ideal space of a uniform algebra in order for this space to have analytic structure. We show that algebras of functions satisfying a maximum principle serve to explain both of these results.