Zero-product balanced algebras

Journal article, 2023

We say that an algebra is zero-product balanced if ab⊗c and a⊗bc agree modulo tensors of elements with zero-product. This is closely related to but more general than the notion of a zero-product determined algebra introduced and developed by Brešar, Villena and others. Every surjective, zero-product preserving map from a zero-product balanced algebra is automatically a weighted epimorphism, and this implies that zero-product balanced algebras are determined by their linear and zero-product structure. Further, the commutator subspace of a zero-product balanced algebra can be described in terms of square-zero elements. We show that a commutative, reduced algebra is zero-product balanced if and only if it is generated by idempotents. It follows that every commutative, zero-product balanced algebra is spanned by nilpotent and idempotent elements.