2-local derivations on \(AW^*\)-algebras of type I (Q2628647)

We recall that a derivation from a Banach algebra \(A\) into a Banach \(A\)-bimodule \(X\) is a linear map \(D: A\to X\) satisfying \(D(a b) = D(a) b + a D(b),\) for every \(a, b\) in \(A\). \textit{P. Šemrl} [Proc. Am. Math. Soc. 125, No. 9, 2677--2680 (1997; Zbl 0887.47030)] introduced the concept of 2-local derivation. A (non-necessarily linear nor continuous) mapping \(\Delta : A\to X\) is said to be a 2-local derivation if, for every \(a,b\in A\), there exists a derivation \(D_{a,b}: A\to X\), depending on \(a\) and \(b\), satisfying \(\Delta(a) = D_{a,b}(a)\) and \(\Delta(b) = D_{a,b}(b)\). In [loc.\,cit.], Šemrl proved that, if \(H\) is an infinite-dimensional separable Hilbert space, then every 2-local derivation on \(B(H)\) is a derivation. The first author of the paper under review, together with \textit{K. Kudaybergenov}, proved in [J. Math. Anal. Appl. 395, No. 1, 15--18 (2012; Zbl 1275.47078)] that the same conclusion remains true for arbitrary complex Hilbert spaces. The most general up to date known conclusion on 2-local derivations on \(C^*\)-algebras is due to the latter authors who proved that every 2-local derivation on a semi-finite von Neumann algebra is a derivation [\textit{S. Ayupov} and \textit{K. Kudaybergenov}, Positivity 19, No. 3, 445--455 (2015; Zbl 1344.46046)]. The question whether every 2-local derivation on a general \(C^*\)-algebra is a derivation remains an open problem. This problem has been pursued by a wide group of researchers in recent times. The interesting paper under review contains a new step forward in the study of 2-local derivations on general \(C^*\)-algebras. Here, the authors prove that every 2-local derivation on an \(AW^*\)-algebra of type I is a derivation. Among the tools developed to obtain the main result, the authors establish an analog of Gleason's theorem for signed measures on projections of homogenous \(AW^*\)-algebras, except for the cases of an \(AW^*\)-algebra of type I\(_2\) and a factor of type I\(_m\) with \(2 < m < \infty\) (see Theorem 1.2), whose proof is based on the structure theory of \(AW^*\)-algebras and the results on quasi-linear functionals developed by \textit{J. F. Aarnes} [Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 149, 601--625 (1970; Zbl 0212.15403)]. The mentioned representation identifies the desired \(AW^*\)-algebra with an algebra of maps from an extremely disconnected compact Hausdorff space \(X\) to the von Neumann algebra \(B(H)\) of all bounded linear operators on a Hilbert space \(H\) satisfying certain conditions, and the assistance from the \(C^*\)-algebra \(C(X,B(H))\) of all continuous operator-valued functions on \(X\). Reviewer's remarks: Weak-2-local derivations have been introduced by \textit{M. Niazi} and the reviewer in [Linear Algebra Appl. 487, 276--300 (2015; Zbl 1348.47029)]. Keeping the notation above, a (non-necessarily linear nor continuous) mapping \(\Delta : A\to X\) is said to be a weak-2-local derivation if, for every \(a,b\in A\) and \(\phi\in X^{*}\), there exists a derivation \(D_{a,b}: A\to X\), depending on \(a,\) \(b\) and \(\phi\), satisfying \(\phi \Delta(a) =\phi D_{a,b}(a)\) and \(\phi \Delta(b) = \phi D_{a,b}(b)\). Clearly, every 2-local derivation is a weak-2-local derivation. Recent results along this line prove that every weak-2-local derivation on a finite-dimensional \(C^*\)-algebra is a derivation [loc. cit.], the same conclusion holds for weak-2-local derivations on \(B(H)\) and \(K(H)\) [\textit{J. C. Cabello} and \textit{A. M. Peralta}, Banach J. Math. Anal. 11, No. 2, 382--397 (2017; Zbl 1372.46051)]. Two further results by \textit{E. Jordá} and the reviewer prove, among other results, that if \(M\) is a von Neumann algebra or a compact \(C^*\)-algebra, and \(\Omega\) is a compact Hausdorff space, then every 2-local derivation on \(C(\Omega,M)\) is a derivation [Aequationes Math. 91, No. 1, 99--114 (2017; Zbl 1370.47044)]. In the setting of \(C^*\)-algebra-valued continuous functions on a locally compact Hausdorff space \(L\), it has been established in [\textit{E. Jordá} and \textit{A. M. Peralta}, Integral Equations Oper. Theory 89, No. 1, 89--110 (2017; Zbl 06816336)] that every weak-2-local derivation on \(C_0(L,A)\) is a linear derivation, provided that \(A\) is a \(C^*\)-algebra on which every weak-2-local derivation is a linear derivation (in particular, when \(A\) is an atomic von Neumann algebra or a compact \(C^*\)-algebra).