Abstract:
In the classical theory of operators on a Banach space a beautiful interplay exists between Riesz and Fredholm theory, and the theory of traces and de¬terminants for operator ideals. In this thesis we obtain a complete Riesz de¬composition theorem for Riesz elements in a semi prime Banach algebra and on the other hand extend the existing theory of traces and determinants to a more general setting of Banach algebras. In order to obtain some of these results we use the notion of finite multiplicity of spectral points to give a characterization of the essential spec¬trum for elements in a Banach algebra. As an immediate corollary we obtain the well-known characterization of Riesz elements namely that their non-zero spectral points are isolated and of finite multiplicities. In the final chapter of the thesis we use Plemelj's type formulas to define a determinant on the ideal of finite rank elements and show that it extends continuously to the ideal of nuclear elements.
