One-parameter groups of orthogonality preservers on \(C^*\)-algebras (Q2218298)

\textit{K. Jarosz} showed in [Can. Math. Bull. 33 (2), 139--144 (1990; zbl 0714.46040)] that every linear bijection preserving orthogonality between \(C(K)\)-spaces is automatically continuous and biorthogonality preserving. In the present paper, the authors, passing to the context of \(C^\ast\)-algebras, give some properties of the kernel of a bounded linear operator preserving orthogonality between such topological algebras. Using the latter, the authors are able to reveal, via characterizations, the nature of all surjective bounded linear operators preserving orthogonality. Amongst others, the kernel of the operator and the multiplier algebra of its range are key in these descriptions. Another important result of the present paper concerns an equivalent aspect, namely for a family of orthogonality preserving bounded linear bijections on a \(C^\ast\)-algebra \(A\) to be a uniformly continuous one-parameter semigroup of orthogonality preserving operators on \(A\). The case when each member of that family is moreover symmetric is also studied. Also, the authors refer to a non-unital version of a result of \textit{M. Wolff} [Arch. Math. 62, 248--253 (1994;Zbl 0803.46069)] according to which a family of symmetric operators, as before, is a uniformly continuous one-parameter semigroup of orthogonality preserving operators on \(A\) if and only if there exist an element in the center of the multiplier algebra of \(A\) and a \(^\ast\)-derivation of \(A\) through which the aforementioned operators are expressed. If this is the case, then for a real \(t\), put \(h_t=T^{\ast\ast}_t(1)\) and let \(r_t\) be the range partial isometry of \(h_t\) in \(A^{\ast\ast}\). If \(t\) runs over \(\mathbb{R}\), then the sets of \(h_t\)'s and \(r_t\)'s, respectively, turn out to be one-parameter groups in the center of the multiplier algebra of \(A\). By using an example, the authors remark that the last assertions may hold for one-parameter semigroups of not necessarily symmetric surjective isometries.