Derivations for a class of matrix function algebras (Q869918)

Let \({\mathcal H}\) be a complex Hilbert space and let \({\mathcal B}({\mathcal H})\) be the algebra of bounded operators on \({\mathcal H}\). Given an operator algebra \({\mathcal A}\) and a bounded representation \(\pi:{\mathcal A}\rightarrow {\mathcal B}({\mathcal H})\), a \textit{point derivation at \(\pi\)} is a continuous linear map \(D:{\mathcal A}\rightarrow {\mathcal B}({\mathcal H})\) such that for every \(a,b\in{\mathcal A}\), \(D(ab)=D(a)\pi(b)+\pi(a)D(b)\); the point derivation \(D\) is \textit{inner at \(\pi\)} if there exists \(X\in{\mathcal B}({\mathcal H})\) such that for all \(a\in{\mathcal A}\), \(D(a)=\pi(a)X-X\pi(a).\) For any bounded derivation \(\delta: {\mathcal A}\rightarrow {\mathcal A}\) and a bounded representation \(\pi:{\mathcal A}\rightarrow {\mathcal B}({\mathcal H})\), the map \(\pi\circ D\) is a point derivation at \(\pi\). When \(\pi\circ D\) is inner at \(\pi\), \(D\) is called \textit{locally inner at \(\pi\).} The paper under review begins with a general study of point derivations for operator algebras, and then shows how they can be used to analyze the structure of derivations on operator algebras arising from certain directed graphs, which we now describe. A finite directed graph \({\mathcal G}\) determines an operator algebra \({\mathcal T}^ +({\mathcal G})\), which is the norm closed algebra generated by the left regular representation of the path semigroup \({\mathcal S}_ {\mathcal G}\) of \({\mathcal G}\) acting on \(\ell^ 2({\mathcal S}_ {\mathcal G})\). For \(n\in{\mathbb{N}}\), let \({\mathcal C}_ n\) be the directed graph with \(n\) vertexes \(v_ 0,\dots, v_ {n-1}\) and a single edge from \(v_ i\) to \(v_ {(i+1)\bmod n}\). The algebra \({\mathcal T}^ +({\mathcal C}_ n)\) has appeared in a number of papers [see, for example, \textit{L. De Alba} and \textit{J. Peters}, Proc. Am. Math. Soc. 95, 557--564 (1985; Zbl 0606.46042) or \textit{D. Kribs} and \textit{S. Power}, J. Ramanujan Math. Soc. 19, No. 2, 117--159 (2004; Zbl 1090.47060)]. This algebra is a subalgebra of the algebra \({\mathbb{A}}({\mathbb{D}},M_ n)\) which is the family of all continuous \(M_ n({\mathbb{C}})\)-valued functions on the open unit disk which extend continuously to \(\overline{{\mathbb{D}}}\). For every \(\lambda\in{\mathbb{C}}\) with \(| \lambda| \leq 1\), there is a representation \(\phi_ \lambda:{\mathcal T}^ +({\mathcal C}_ n)\rightarrow {\mathcal B}({\mathbb{C}}^ n)\) which corresponds to evaluation at \(\lambda\). The main result of the paper under review is that any derivation \(D\) of \({\mathcal T}^ +({\mathcal C}_ n)\) into itself is inner. This result is obtained by using the semi-simplicity of \({\mathcal T}^ +({\mathcal C}_ n)\) to conclude that \(D\) is bounded, then showing that \(D\) is locally inner at \(\phi_ \lambda\) for every \(\lambda\in{\mathbb{C}}\) with \(| \lambda| =1\). Finally, by piecing the operators implementing the local inner derivations together, the author shows that \(D\) is inner.