On generators for derivations from subalgebras of separable \(C^*\)- algebras (Q1114129)

A \(C^*\)-algebra A is said to be weakly hereditary cohomologically trivial (weakly HCT) if, for each \(C^*\)-subalgebra B of A, the set \(\{\) ad \(x|\) \(x\in A^{**}\), \(xB+Bx\subset A\}\) is the set of all derivations of B into A. The author shows that a separable \(C^*\)- algebra A is weakly HCT if and only if it is equal to the direct sum of two \(C^*\)-algebras, the first of which is the direct sum of a sequence of elementary \(C^*\)-algebras and the second of which is a continuous trace \(C^*\)-algebra in which the set of equivalence classes of irreducible representations of dimension greater than 1 is discrete in the spectrum of the algebra. An elementary algebra is one that can be expressed as the algebra of all compact operators on some separable Hilbert space. To describe the continuous trace algebra in the second summand, the following example given by the author is instructive. Let H be a separable infinite dimensional Hilbert space, let \((e_ n)\) be an orthonormal basis for H, let \(p_ n\) be the projection of H onto \(span\{e_ 1,...,e_ n\}\), let \(B_ n=p_ nB(H)p_ n\), \(B_{\infty}\) be the compact operators, let f be a function of \(\{\) 1,2,...\(\}\) into \(\{\) 2,3,...\(\}\), \(A_ n=B_{f(n)}\), let X a locally compact second countable Hausdorff space with open discrete subset \(D=\{x_ n\}\), and let \(F=X\setminus D\). Then the set of all norm continuous functions of X into B(H) vanishing at \(\infty\) such that \(a(x_ n)\in A_ n\) and such that \(a(x)(1-p_ 1)=(1-p_ 1)a(x)=0\) for all \(x\in F\) is an algebra A of the second kind with D being the class of representations of dimension greater than 1. The proof centers on the careful analysis of the direct summands of A resulting from the fact that every derivation of A into itself is implemented in the multiplier algebra. Algebras A with this property were studied by \textit{C. A. Akemann} and \textit{G. K. Pedersen} [Am. J. Math. 101, 1047-1064 (1979; Zbl 0432.46059)] and \textit{G. A. Elliott} [Ann. Math., II. Ser. 106, 121-143 (1977; Zbl 0365.46051)]. The algebras with continuous trace occurring in the direct summand were studied by the author and \textit{A. J. Lazar} and \textit{S-K. Tsui} in an earlier paper [Can. J. Math. 38, 109-126 (1986; Zbl 0594.46055)]. In another place [Mich. J. Math. 31, 65-72 (1984; Zbl 0601.46057)], \textit{A. J. Lazar}, S- K. Tsui, and the present author characterized separable HCT \(C^*\)- algebras. Here the implementation of all derivations of all \(C^*\)- subalgebras B of A into A is required to be in the multiplier algebra of A. These authors showed that a separable \(C^*\)-algebra is HCT if and only if it is the direct sum of a commutative \(C^*\)-algebra and the restricted direct sum of elementary \(C^*\)-algebras.