Suppose that $\mathcal {A}$ is a unital subhomogeneous C*-algebra. We show that every central sequence in $\mathcal {A}$ is hypercentral if and only if every pointwise limit of a sequence of irreducible representations is multiplicity free. We also show that every central sequence in $\mathcal {A}$ is trivial if and only if every pointwise limit of irreducible representations is irreducible. Finally, we give a nice representation of the latter algebras.

Let A be a C*-algebra and let ΘA be the canonical contraction form the Haagerup tensor product of M(A) with itself to the space of completely bounded maps on A. In this paper we consider the following conditions on A: (a) A is a finitely generated module over the centre of M(A); (b) the image of ΘA is equal to the set E(A) of all elementary operators on A; and (c) the lengths of elementary operators on A are uniformly bounded. We show that A satisfies (a) if and only if it is a finite direct sum of unital homogeneous C*-algebras. We also show that if a separable A satisfies (b) or (c), then A is necessarily subhomogeneous and the C*-bundles corresponding to the homogeneous subquotients of A must be of finite type.

On a separable C*-algebra A every (completely) bounded map which preserves closed two-sided ideals can be approximated uniformly by elementary operators if and only if A is a finite direct sum of C*-algebras of continuous sections vanishing at ∞ of locally trivial C*-bundles of finite type.

A characterization is given of those unital, 2-subhomogeneous, Fell C*-algebras which have only inner derivations. This proves Sproston and Strauss's conjecture from 1992. Various examples are given of phenomena which cannot occur for separable C*-algebras. In particular, an example is given of a C*-algebra with only inner derivations which has a quotient algebra admitting outer derivations. This answers a question of Akemann, Elliott, Pedersen and Tomiyama from 1976.

Complete positivity of ‘atomically extensible’ bounded linear operators between $C^*$-algebras is characterized in terms of positivity of a bilinear form on certain finite-rank operators. In the case of an elementary operator on a $C^*$-algebra, the approach leads us to characterize k-positivity of the operator in terms of positivity of a quadratic form on a subset of the dual space of the algebra and in terms of a certain inequality involving factorial states of finite type I.

As an application we characterize those $C^*$-algebras where every k-positive elementary operator on the algebra is completely positive. They are either k-subhomogeneous or k-subhomogeneous by antiliminal. We also give a dual approach to the metric operator space introduced by Arveson.

AMS 2000 Mathematics subject classification: Primary 46L05. Secondary 47B47; 47B65