Published online by Cambridge University Press: 20 January 2009
In this article we prove that if a completely positive linear map Φ of a unital C*-algebra A into another B with only finite dimensional irreducible representations is pure, then we have NΦ = Φker + kerΦ, where NΦ={x∈A|Φ(x) = 0}, Φker = {x∈A|Φ(x*x) = 0}, and kerΦ={x∈A|Φ(xx*) = 0}. We also prove that for every unital strongly positive and n-positive linear map Φ of a C*-algebra A onto another B with n≧2, if NΦ = Φker + kerΦ, then Φ is extreme in Pn(A, B, IB). By this null-kernel condition, many new extreme n-positive linear maps are identified. A general procedure for constructing extreme n-positive linear maps is suggested and discussed.