Derivations on C★-algebras have been widely studied due to their fundamental role in operator algebras and their close connection with classical differentiation. Motivated by the notion of generalized derivations introduced for rings and subsequently investigated in various algebraic settings, this paper studies generalized derivations on C★-algebras. For a unital C★-algebra 𝒜, we introduce the notions of generalized derivations and generalized inner derivations and examine their structural properties. We obtain a characterization of generalized derivations on 𝒜 and show that every generalized derivation is necessarily a generalized inner derivation. As a consequence, generalized derivations on C★-algebras are automatically bounded and therefore continuous. These results extend classical properties of derivations on C★-algebras to the generalized setting and provide a deeper understanding of their behavior within the framework of operator algebras. We further investigate the algebraic structure of the class 𝒢𝒟 of all generalized derivations on 𝒜. In particular, we derive necessary and sufficient conditions under which the composition of two generalized derivations is again a generalized derivation. Using these conditions, we determine when 𝒢𝒟 is closed under composition and establish that it forms a unital subalgebra of L(A), the algebra of bounded linear operators on 𝒜. Finally, the obtained results are extended to non-unital C★-algebras, thereby providing a unified treatment of generalized derivations in both unital and non-unital settings.
| Published in | American Journal of Applied Mathematics (Volume 14, Issue 4) |
| DOI | 10.11648/j.ajam.20261404.15 |
| Page(s) | 220-226 |
| Creative Commons |
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited. |
| Copyright |
Copyright © The Author(s), 2026. Published by Science Publishing Group |
Generalized Derivation, Lie Product, Multiplication Operator, Generalized Inner Derivation
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APA Style
Kumar, D., Sharma, P., Kumar, P. (2026). Generalized Derivations on Unital and Non-unital C★-Algebras. American Journal of Applied Mathematics, 14(4), 220-226. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajam.20261404.15
ACS Style
Kumar, D.; Sharma, P.; Kumar, P. Generalized Derivations on Unital and Non-unital C★-Algebras. Am. J. Appl. Math. 2026, 14(4), 220-226. doi: 10.11648/j.ajam.20261404.15
@article{10.11648/j.ajam.20261404.15,
author = {Dharmendra Kumar and Praveen Sharma and Pawan Kumar},
title = {Generalized Derivations on Unital and Non-unital C★-Algebras},
journal = {American Journal of Applied Mathematics},
volume = {14},
number = {4},
pages = {220-226},
doi = {10.11648/j.ajam.20261404.15},
url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajam.20261404.15},
eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajam.20261404.15},
abstract = {Derivations on C★-algebras have been widely studied due to their fundamental role in operator algebras and their close connection with classical differentiation. Motivated by the notion of generalized derivations introduced for rings and subsequently investigated in various algebraic settings, this paper studies generalized derivations on C★-algebras. For a unital C★-algebra 𝒜, we introduce the notions of generalized derivations and generalized inner derivations and examine their structural properties. We obtain a characterization of generalized derivations on 𝒜 and show that every generalized derivation is necessarily a generalized inner derivation. As a consequence, generalized derivations on C★-algebras are automatically bounded and therefore continuous. These results extend classical properties of derivations on C★-algebras to the generalized setting and provide a deeper understanding of their behavior within the framework of operator algebras. We further investigate the algebraic structure of the class 𝒢𝒟 of all generalized derivations on 𝒜. In particular, we derive necessary and sufficient conditions under which the composition of two generalized derivations is again a generalized derivation. Using these conditions, we determine when 𝒢𝒟 is closed under composition and establish that it forms a unital subalgebra of L(A), the algebra of bounded linear operators on 𝒜. Finally, the obtained results are extended to non-unital C★-algebras, thereby providing a unified treatment of generalized derivations in both unital and non-unital settings.},
year = {2026}
}
TY - JOUR T1 - Generalized Derivations on Unital and Non-unital C★-Algebras AU - Dharmendra Kumar AU - Praveen Sharma AU - Pawan Kumar Y1 - 2026/07/23 PY - 2026 N1 - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajam.20261404.15 DO - 10.11648/j.ajam.20261404.15 T2 - American Journal of Applied Mathematics JF - American Journal of Applied Mathematics JO - American Journal of Applied Mathematics SP - 220 EP - 226 PB - Science Publishing Group SN - 2330-006X UR - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajam.20261404.15 AB - Derivations on C★-algebras have been widely studied due to their fundamental role in operator algebras and their close connection with classical differentiation. Motivated by the notion of generalized derivations introduced for rings and subsequently investigated in various algebraic settings, this paper studies generalized derivations on C★-algebras. For a unital C★-algebra 𝒜, we introduce the notions of generalized derivations and generalized inner derivations and examine their structural properties. We obtain a characterization of generalized derivations on 𝒜 and show that every generalized derivation is necessarily a generalized inner derivation. As a consequence, generalized derivations on C★-algebras are automatically bounded and therefore continuous. These results extend classical properties of derivations on C★-algebras to the generalized setting and provide a deeper understanding of their behavior within the framework of operator algebras. We further investigate the algebraic structure of the class 𝒢𝒟 of all generalized derivations on 𝒜. In particular, we derive necessary and sufficient conditions under which the composition of two generalized derivations is again a generalized derivation. Using these conditions, we determine when 𝒢𝒟 is closed under composition and establish that it forms a unital subalgebra of L(A), the algebra of bounded linear operators on 𝒜. Finally, the obtained results are extended to non-unital C★-algebras, thereby providing a unified treatment of generalized derivations in both unital and non-unital settings. VL - 14 IS - 4 ER -