We prove that for every group $G$ and any two sets $I,J$, the Brandt semigroup algebras $ell(B(I,G))$ and $ell(B(J,G))$ are Morita equivalent with respect to the Morita theory of self-induced Banach algebras introduced by Gronbaek. As applications, w
e show that if $G$ is an amenable group, then for a wide class of Banach $ell(B(I,G))$-bimodules $E$, and every $n>0$, the bounded Hochschild cohomology groups $H^n(ell(B(I,G)),E^*)$ are trivial, and also, the notion of approximate amenability is not Morita invariant.
Rajchman measures of locally compact Abelian groups are studied for almost a century now, and they play an important role in the study of trigonometric series. Eymards influential work allowed generalizing these measures to the case of emph{non-Abeli
an} locally compact groups $G$. The Rajchman algebra of $G$, which we denote by $B_0(G)$, is the set of all elements of the Fourier-Stieltjes algebra that vanish at infinity. In the present article, we characterize the locally compact groups that have amenable Rajchman algebras. We show that $B_0(G)$ is amenable if and only if $G$ is compact and almost Abelian. On the other extreme, we present many examples of locally compact groups, such as non-compact Abelian groups and infinite solvable groups, for which $B_0(G)$ fails to even have an approximate identity.
We give a necessary and sufficient condition for amenability of the Banach algebra of approximable operators on a Banach space. We further investigate the relationship between amenability of this algebra and factorization of operators, strengthening
known results and developing new techniques to determine whether or not a given Banach space carries an amenable algebra of approximable operators. Using these techniques, we are able to show, among other things, the non-amenability of the algebra of approximable operators on Tsirelsons space.
Associated to a nonzero homomorphism $varphi$ of a Banach algebra $A$, we regard special functionals, say $m_varphi$, on certain subspaces of $A^ast$ which provide equivalent statements to the existence of a bounded right approximate identity in the
corresponding maximal ideal in $A$. For instance, applying a fixed point theorem yields an equivalent statement to the existence of a $m_varphi$ on $A^ast$; and, in addition we expatiate the case that if a functional $m_varphi$ is unique, then $m_varphi$ belongs to the topological center of the bidual algebra $A^{astast}$. An example of a function algebra, surprisingly, contradicts a conjecture that a Banach algebra $A$ is amenable if $A$ is $varphi$-amenable in every character $varphi$ and if functionals $m_varphi$ associated to the characters $varphi$ are uniformly bounded. Aforementioned are also elaborated on the direct sum of two given Banach algebras.
For any finite unital commutative idempotent semigroup S, a unital semilattice, we show how to compute the amenability constant of its semigroup algebra l^1(S), which is always of the form 4n+1. We then show that these give lower bounds to amenabilit
y constants of certain Banach algebras graded over semilattices. We show that there is no commutative semilattice with amenability constant between 5 and 9.