Absolute continuity of positive linear functionals

Abstract

The goal of this paper is to present characterizations for absolute continuity of representable positive functionals on general $^*$-algebras. From the results we give a new and very different proof to our recently published Lebesgue decomposition theorem for representable positive functionals. On unital $C^*$-algebras and measure algebras of compact groups further characterizations are included in the paper. As an application of our results, we answer Gudder's problem on the uniqueness of the Lebesgue decomposition in the case of commutative $^*$-algebras and measure algebras of compact groups. Another application to faithful positive functionals defined on the latter $^*$-algebras is also included.