Let N be a maximal atomic nest on Hilbert space H and AlgN denote the associated nest algebra. We prove that a weakly continuous and surjective linear map Φ : AlgN →AlgN preserves the closure of numerical range if and only if there exists a unitary operator U ∈ B(H) such that Φ(T ) = UT U * for every T ∈AlgN or Φ(T ) = UT tr U * for every T ∈AlgN , where T tr denotes the transpose of T relative to an arbitrary but fixed base of H. As applications, we get the characterizations of the numerical range or numerical radius preservers on AlgN . The surjective linear maps on the diagonal algebras of atomic nest algebras preserving the closure of numerical range or preserving the numerical range (radius) are also characterized.
Mathematics Subject Classification (2000). Primary 47B48; Secondary 47A12, 47L35.