In mathematics, an element of a *-algebra is called unitary if it is invertible and its inverse element is the same as its adjoint element.^[1]

Let ${\displaystyle {\mathcal {A))}$ be a *-algebra with unit ${\displaystyle e}$. An element ${\displaystyle a\in {\mathcal {A))}$ is called unitary if ${\displaystyle aa^{*}=a^{*}a=e}$. In other words, if ${\displaystyle a}$ is invertible and ${\displaystyle a^{-1}=a^{*))$ holds, then ${\displaystyle a}$ is unitary.^[1]

The set of unitary elements is denoted by ${\displaystyle {\mathcal {A))_{U))$ or ${\displaystyle U({\mathcal {A)))}$.

A special case from particular importance is the case where ${\displaystyle {\mathcal {A))}$ is a complete normed *-algebra. This algebra satisfies the C*-identity (${\displaystyle \left\|a^{*}a\right\|=\left\|a\right\|^{2}\ \forall a\in {\mathcal {A))}$) and is called a C*-algebra.

• Let ${\displaystyle {\mathcal {A))}$ be a unital C*-algebra and ${\displaystyle a\in {\mathcal {A))_{N))$ a normal element. Then, ${\displaystyle a}$ is unitary if the spectrum ${\displaystyle \sigma (a)}$ consists only of elements of the circle group ${\displaystyle \mathbb {T} }$, i.e. ${\displaystyle \sigma (a)\subseteq \mathbb {T} =\{\lambda \in \mathbb {C} \mid |\lambda |=1\))$.^[2]

• The unit ${\displaystyle e}$ is unitary.^[3]

Let ${\displaystyle {\mathcal {A))}$ be a unital C*-algebra, then:

• Every projection, i.e. every element ${\displaystyle a\in {\mathcal {A))}$ with ${\displaystyle a=a^{*}=a^{2))$, is unitary. For the spectrum of a projection consists of at most ${\displaystyle 0}$ and ${\displaystyle 1}$, as follows from the continuous functional calculus.^[4]
• If ${\displaystyle a\in {\mathcal {A))_{N))$ is a normal element of a C*-algebra ${\displaystyle {\mathcal {A))}$, then for every continuous function ${\displaystyle f}$ on the spectrum ${\displaystyle \sigma (a)}$ the continuous functional calculus defines an unitary element ${\displaystyle f(a)}$, if ${\displaystyle f(\sigma (a))\subseteq \mathbb {T} }$.^[2]

Let ${\displaystyle {\mathcal {A))}$ be a unital *-algebra and ${\displaystyle a,b\in {\mathcal {A))_{U))$. Then:

• The element ${\displaystyle ab}$ is unitary, since ${\textstyle ((ab)^{*})^{-1}=(b^{*}a^{*})^{-1}=(a^{*})^{-1}(b^{*})^{-1}=ab}$. In particular, ${\displaystyle {\mathcal {A))_{U))$ forms a multiplicative group.^[1]
• The element ${\displaystyle a}$ is normal.^[3]
• The adjoint element ${\displaystyle a^{*))$ is also unitary, since ${\displaystyle a=(a^{*})^{*))$ holds for the involution *.^[1]
• If ${\displaystyle {\mathcal {A))}$ is a C*-algebra, ${\displaystyle a}$ has norm 1, i.e. ${\displaystyle \left\|a\right\|=1}$.^[5]

• Unitary matrix
• Unitary operator

• Blackadar, Bruce (2006). Operator Algebras. Theory of C*-Algebras and von Neumann Algebras. Berlin/Heidelberg: Springer. pp. 57, 63. ISBN 3-540-28486-9.
• Dixmier, Jacques (1977). C*-algebras. Translated by Jellett, Francis. Amsterdam/New York/Oxford: North-Holland. ISBN 0-7204-0762-1. English translation of Les C*-algèbres et leurs représentations (in French). Gauthier-Villars. 1969.
• Kadison, Richard V.; Ringrose, John R. (1983). Fundamentals of the Theory of Operator Algebras. Volume 1 Elementary Theory. New York/London: Academic Press. ISBN 0-12-393301-3.