Approximate amenability and pseudo-amenability in Banach algebras (Q6095729)

Let \(A\) be a Banach algebra and \(X\) a Banach \(A\)-bimodule. A linear mapping \(D: A\to X\) is a derivation if \[ D(ab) = a . D(b) + D(a) . b\quad (a, b \in A), \] where \(.\) denotes the module action of \(A\) on \(X\). In particular, for each \(\xi\in X,\) the mapping \(a \mapsto \delta_\xi(a) := a.\xi-\xi.a\) is a derivation, which is called an inner derivation. The derivation \(D\) is called (boundedly) approximately inner if there is a (resp. bounded) net \((\xi_\alpha) \subseteq X\) such that \[ D(a) = \lim_\alpha (a\xi_\alpha-\xi_\alpha a), \quad (a\in A). \] A (bounded) net \((u_i)\) in the projective tensor product \(A\hat{\otimes} A\) is a (resp. bounded) approximate diagonal for $A$ if \[ \lim_i (a . u_i - u_i . a) = 0,\quad \lim_i\pi(u_i)a \to a \quad (a\in A), \] where \(\pi: A\hat{\otimes}A \to A\) is the product mapping defined by \(\pi(a \otimes b) = ab.\) The Banach algebra \(A\) is amenable if for each Banach \(A\)-bimodule \(X\), every continuous derivation \(D: A\to X\) is boundedly approximately inner [\textit{F.~Gourdeau}, Math. Proc. Camb. Philos. Soc. 112, No.~3, 581--588 (1992; Zbl 0782.46043)]. This definition is equivalent to ``for each Banach \(A\)-bimodule \(X\), every continuous derivation from \(A\) into the dual module \(X^*\) is inner'' as defined in [\textit{B.~E. Johnson}, Cohomology in Banach algebras. Providence, RI: American Mathematical Society (AMS) (1972; Zbl 0256.18014)], and also equivalent to ``there is a bounded approximate diagonal for $A$'', see [\textit{B.~E. Johnson}, Am. J. Math. 94, 685--698 (1972; Zbl 0246.46040)]. The amenability of Banach algebras may be generalized by dropping the above boundedness conditions as follows. The Banach algebra \(A\) is approximately amenable if for each Banach \(A\)-bimodule \(X\), every continuous derivation \(D: A \to X\) is approximately inner [\textit{F.~Ghahramani} and \textit{R.~J. Loy}, J. Funct. Anal. 208, No.~1, 229--260 (2004; Zbl 1045.46029)]; equivalently, the Banach algebra \(A\) is approximately amenable if for each Banach \(A\)-bimodule \(X\), every continuous derivation from \(A\) to \(X^*\) is approximately inner, see [\textit{F.~Ghahramani} et al., J. Funct. Anal. 254, No.~7, 1776--1810 (2008; Zbl 1146.46023)]. Also, the Banach algebra \(A\) is called pseudo-amenable if there exists an approximate diagonal for \(A\). Approximate amenability and pseudo-amenability are different notions, in general. In this paper, the recent development of approximate amenability and pseudo-amenability in Banach algebras, concentrating on the relationship between the two notions is surveyed. It has been conjectured that a Banach algebra with a bounded approximate identity is approximately amenable if and only if it is pseudo-amenable. Some partial affirmative results concerning the conjecture are given.