Homomorphisms and derivations in \(C^{*}\)-algebras (Q2472073)

The paper deals with the following question due to \textit{S. M. Ulam} [A collection of mathematical problems. New York, London: Interscience Publishers (1960; Zbl 0086.24101)]: Given a group \(G\), a metric group \(G'\) with metric \(\rho(\cdot,\cdot)\), and \(\varepsilon>0\), does there exist a \(\delta>0\) such that if \(f:G\to G'\) satisfies \(\rho(f(xy),f(x)f(x))<\delta\) for all \(x,y\in G\), then a homomorphism \(h:G\to G'\) exists with \(\rho(f(x),h(x))<\varepsilon\) for all \(x\in G\)? The authors provide an affirmative answer to this question in some certain easy cases. Let \(f:A\to B\) be a mapping such that \[ \big\| f(z-\mu x)+\mu f(z-y)+\tfrac12f(x+y)\big\| \leq\big\| 2f \big(z-\tfrac{x+y}4\big)\big\|, \] for all \(\mu\in\mathbb{T}:=\{\lambda\in\mathbb{C}:| \lambda| =1\}\) and all \(x,y,z\in A\). It is proved that if \(A\) and \(B\) are both \(C^*\)-algebras and \(f\) satisfies \(\| f(xy)-f(x)f(y)\| \leq\theta\| x\| ^r \| y\| ^r\) and \(\| f(x^*)-f(x)^*\| \leq2\theta\| x\| ^r\) for some \(r>1\) and \(\theta\geq0\), then \(f\) is a \(*\)-homomorphism. They also show that if \(A\) and \(B\) are both \(C^*\)-algebras and \(f\) satisfies \(\| f(xy)-f(x)y-xf(y)\| \leq\theta\| x\| ^r\| y\| ^r\) for some \(r>1\) and \(\theta\geq0\), then \(f\) is a linear derivation. The same results concerning homomorphisms and Lie (respectively, Jordan) derivations when \(A\) and \(B\) are both Lie \(C^*\)-algebras (respectively, \(JC^*\)-algebras) are given by exactly the same reasoning.