Automatic Continuity of $σ$-Derivations on $C^*$-Algebras

Abstract

Let $A$ be a $C^*$-algebra acting on a Hilbert space $H$, $σ:A\to B(H)$ be a linear mapping and $d:A\to B(H)$ be a $σ$-derivation. Generalizing the celebrated theorem of Sakai, we prove that if $σ$ is a continuous $*$-mapping then $d$ is automatically continuous. In addition, we show the converse is true in the sense that if $d$ is a continuous $*-σ$-derivation then there exists a continuous linear mapping $Σ:A\to B(H)$ such that $d$ is $*-Σ$-derivation. The continuity of the so-called $*-(σ,τ)$-derivations is also discussed.