Jordan Derivations of Incidence Algebras

Abstract

Let $\mathcal{R}$ be a commutative ring with identity, $I(X,\mathcal{R})$ be the incidence algebra of a locally finite pre-ordered set $X$. In this note, we characterise the derivations of $I(X,\mathcal{R})$ and prove that every Jordan derivation of $I(X,\mathcal{R})$ is a derivation provided that $\mathcal{R}$ is $2$-torsion free.

8 pages, to appear in Rocky Mountain J. Math