Zero product preserving linear maps of CCR C\(^*\)-algebras with Hausdorff spectrum (Q1036170)

Let \(\mathcal A,\mathcal B\) be algebras. A linear map \(\theta:\mathcal A\to \mathcal B\) is called zero product preserving if \(\theta (a)\theta (b)=0\) holds whenever \(a,b\in \mathcal A\) are such that \(ab=0\). It is an interesting problem studied by several authors to ask how close the zero product preserving maps on \(C^*\)-algebras (or, more generally, Banach algebras) are to the algebra homomorphisms. \textit{J.\,Araujo} and \textit{K.\,Jarosz} [J.~Math.\ Anal.\ Appl.\ 282, No.\,1, 48--55 (2003; Zbl 1044.47029)] conjectured that every bijective linear map \(\theta\) between \(C^*\)-algebras with both \(\theta\) and \(\theta^{-1}\) preserving zero products arises from an algebra isomorphism followed by a central multiplier. The main aim of this paper is to prove that the conjecture is true for CCR \(C^*\)-algebras with Hausdorff spectrum. The route to this goal consists of two main steps. In the first one, the authors develop a structure theory of zero product preserving linear maps between continuous fields of Banach algebras over locally compact Hausdorff spaces. In the second one, they extend a result of Araujo and Jarosz concerning the structure of such transformations on standard operator algebras to the non-unital case. Putting together the thus obtained information, the authors reach the desired conclusion.