On the first-order operators in bimodules (Q1922518)

In order to generalize the notion of a first-order (partial differential) operator between modules (of smooth sections of vector bundles) over a commutative associative algebra (of smooth functions on a manifold) to the noncommutative setting, according to \textit{A. Connes} [``Noncommutative geometry'', Acad. Press, New York (1994; Zbl 0818.46076)] one has to use bimodules. Proceeding along these lines one arives at the space \[ {\mathcal L}^1({\mathcal M},{\mathcal N}) = \{D\in {\mathcal L}({\mathcal M},{\mathcal N})\mid [[D,L_f],R_g]=0,\quad \forall f\in{\mathcal A},\quad g\in {\mathcal B}\}, \] if \(\mathcal M\) and \(\mathcal N\) denote two \(({\mathcal A},{\mathcal B})\)-bimodules over two unital associative complex algebras \(\mathcal A\) and \(\mathcal B\), and \(L_f\) and \(R_g\) denote left and right multiplication by \(f\in {\mathcal A}\) and \(g\in {\mathcal B}\), respectively. Derivations \(\delta : {\mathcal A}\to{\mathcal N}\) are just first-order operators of \(\mathcal A\) into \(\mathcal N\) with \(\delta(\mathbf{1}_{\mathcal A})=0\). Using the universal derivation \[ d_u:{\mathcal A}\ni f\mapsto 1_{\mathcal A}\otimes f-f\otimes \mathbf{1}_{\mathcal A}\in \Omega^1_u({\mathcal A})=\text{ker }({\mathcal A}\otimes{\mathcal A}\ni f\otimes g\mapsto fg\in {\mathcal A}) \] the authors find the following structure theorem for a first-order operator \(D\in{\mathcal L}^1({\mathcal M},{\mathcal N})\): There are unique \(({\mathcal A},{\mathcal B})\)-bimodule homomorphisms \(\sigma_L(D):\Omega^1_u({\mathcal A})\otimes_{\mathcal A} {\mathcal M}\to{\mathcal N}\) and \(\sigma_R(D):{\mathcal M}\otimes_{\mathcal A}\Omega^1_u({\mathcal A})\to{\mathcal N}\) (generalized symbols of \(D\)) such that \[ D(fmg)= fD(m)g+\sigma_L(D)(m)(d_uf\otimes m)g+\sigma_R(D)(m\otimes d_ug) \] for \(f\in{\mathcal A}\), \(g\in{\mathcal B}\) and \(m\in{\mathcal M}\). In particular, this applies to \(\Omega\)-connections on a \(\Omega^0\)-bimodule of a graded differential algebra \(\Omega\).