Derivations modulo elementary operators. (Q663598)

The authors characterize bi-additive, zero-product preserving maps on prime rings. Let \(R\) be a prime ring with extended centroid \(C\), symmetric Martindale quotient ring \(Q\), maximal right and left quotient rings \(Q_r\) and \(Q_l\), and symmetric maximal quotient ring \(M\). If \(I\) is a nonzero ideal of \(R\) let \(I_0\) be the sum of all nonzero ideals \(K\) of \(R\) so that \(K+eK+Ke\subseteq I\) for some \(e^2=e\in Q-(0)\). The main result in the paper sets \(\varphi(x,y)=\sum_{i=1}^m G_i(x)ya_i+\sum_{j=1}^n b_jxH_j(y)\) for \(\{G_i,H_j\}\) additive maps from \(I\) to \(M\) and \(\{a_i\}, \{b_j \}\subseteq M\), \(C\)-independent subsets. If \(Q\) contains a nontrivial idempotent, and if for any \(x,y\in I\) so that \(xy=0\), \(\varphi(x,y)=0\) then there are \(mn\) unique derivations \(\delta_{ji}\colon I_0\to M\), \(\{b_1^0,\dots,b_m^0\}\subseteq Q_r\), and \(\{a_1^0,\dots,a_n^0\}\subseteq Q_l\), so that for all \(x,y\in I_0\) and all \(i\) and \(j\), \(G_i(x)=\sum_{j=1}^nb_j\delta_{ji}(x)+b_i^0x\) and \(H_j(y)=\sum_{i=1}^m\delta_{ji}(y)a_i+ya_j^0\). Further, there is an additive \(F\colon I_0\to M\) so that \(\varphi(x,y)=F(xy)\) for all \(x,y\in I_0\). One simpler consequence sets \(\varphi(x,y)=G(x)ya+bxH(y)+\sum_{i=1}^s\sum_{j=1}^td_ixw_{ij}ye_j\) for additive \(G,H\colon I\to M\), \(\{b,d_1,\dots,d_s\},\{a,e_1,\dots,e_t\}\subseteq M\), \(C\)-independent, and \(\{w_{ij}\}\subseteq M\). The conclusion here is that when \(Q\) contains a nontrivial idempotent and when \(\varphi(x,y)=0\) whenever \(x,y\in I\) with \(xy=0\) then all \(w_{ij}\in C\) and there is a unique derivation \(\delta\colon I_0\to Q(RC)\) and some \(b^0\in Q_r(RC)\) and \(a^0\in Q_l(RC)\) so that \(G(x)=b\delta(x)+b^0x\) and \(H(y)=\delta(y)a+ya^0\) for all \(x,y\in I_0\). As above there is an additive \(F\colon I_0\to Q(RC)\) so that \(\varphi(x,y)=F(xy)\) on \(I_0\).