Free semigroupoid algebras and the first cohomology groups

This paper investigates derivations of the free semigroupoid algebra $\mathfrak{L}_G$ of a countable or uncountable directed graph $G$ and its norm-closed version, the tensor algebra $\mathcal{A}_G$. We first prove a weak Dixmier approximation theorem for $\mathfrak{L}_G$ when $G$ is strongly connected. Using the theorem, we show that if every connected component of $G$ is strongly connected, then every bounded derivation $δ$ from $\mathcal{A}_G$ into $\mathfrak{L}_G$ is of the form $δ=δ_T$ for some $T\in\mathfrak{L}_G$ with $\|T\|\leqslant\|δ\|$. For any finite directed graph $G$, we also show that the first cohomology group $H^1(\mathcal{A}_G,\mathfrak{L}_G)$ vanishes if and only if every connected component of $G$ is either strongly connected or a fruit tree. To handle infinite directed graphs, we introduce the alternating number and propose \Cref{conj intro-in-tree}. Suppose every connected component of $G$ is not strongly connected. We show that if every bounded derivation from $\mathcal{A}_G$ into $\mathfrak{L}_G$ is inner, then every connected component of $G$ is a generalized fruit tree and the alternating number $A(G)$ of $G$ is finite. The converse is also true if the conjecture holds. Finally, we provide some examples of free semigroupoid algebras together with their nontrivial first cohomology groups.