Banach–Stone Theorems for maps preserving common zeros

Abstract

Let X and Y be completely regular spaces and E and F be Hausdorff topological vector spaces. We call a linear map T from a subspace of C(X, E) into C(Y, F) a Banach–Stone map if it has the form T f (y) =  S _y (f (h(y))) for a family of linear operators S _y : E → F, ${y \in Y}$ , and a function h: Y → X. In this paper, we consider maps having the property:

$$\bigcap^{k}_{i=1}Z(f_{i}) \neq\emptyset \iff \bigcap^{k}_{i=1}Z(Tf_{i})\neq\emptyset , \quad({\rm Z}) $$

where Z(f) =  {f =  0}. We characterize linear bijections with property (Z) between spaces of continuous functions, respectively, spaces of differentiable functions (including C ^∞), as Banach–Stone maps. In particular, we confirm a conjecture of Ercan and Önal: Suppose that X and Y are realcompact spaces and E and F are Hausdorff topological vector lattices (respectively, C ^*-algebras). Let T: C(X, E) → C(Y, F) be a vector lattice isomorphism (respectively, *-algebra isomorphism) such that

$$ Z(f) \neq\emptyset\iff Z(Tf) \neq\emptyset. $$

Then X is homeomorphic to Y and E is lattice isomorphic (respectively, C ^*-isomorphic) to F. Some results concerning the continuity of T are also obtained.