Banach lattice AM-algebras

Abstract

An analogue of Kakutani's representation theorem for Banach lattice algebras is provided. We characterize Banach lattice algebras that embed as a closed sublattice-algebra of $C(K)$ precisely as those with a positive approximate identity $(e_\gamma)$ such that $x^{*}(e_\gamma)\to \|x^{*}\|$ for every positive functional $x^{*}$. We also show that every Banach lattice algebra with identity other than $C(K)$ admits different product operations which are compatible with the order and the algebraic identity. This complements the classical result, due to Martignon, that on $C(K)$ spaces pointwise multiplication is the unique compatible product.