Pre-Markov operators

Abstract

In operator theory characterizing extreme points has been systematically studied in a convex set of linear operators from an algebra to another. This paper presents some new characterizations. We define pre-Markov operators and identify when the second adjoint of a linear positive operator being an extreme point in the collection of all Markov operators between the unital second order duals of two unital f-algebras. Moreover a characterization of extreme points is given in the collection of all contractive operators between unital f-algebras. In addition, we give a condition that makes an order bounded algebra homomorphism is a lattice homomorphism.