MAPPINGS WHICH PRESERVE IDEMPOTENTS, LOCAL AUTOMORPHISMS, AND LOCAL DERIVATIONS

It is proved that linear mappings of matrix algebras which preserve idempotents are Jordan homomorphisms. Applying this theorem we get some results concerning local derivations and local automorphisms. As an another application, the complete description of all weakly continuous linear surjective mappings on standard operator algebras which preserve projections is obtained. We also study local ring derivations on commutative semisimple Banach algebras.