HOMOMORPHISMS ON FUNCTION ALGEBRAS

Let A be an algebra of continuous real functions on a topological space X. We study when every nonzero algebra homomorphism phi:A --> R is given by evaluation at some point of X. In the case that A is the algebra of rational functions (or real-analytic functions, or C(m)-functions) on a Banach space, we provide a positive answer for a wide class of spaces, including separable spaces and super-reflexive spaces (with nonmeasurable cardinal).