The constrained inverse eigenvalue problem and its approximation for normal matrices

In this paper, the constrained inverse eigenvalue problem and associated approximation problem for normal matrices are considered. The solvability conditions and general solutions of the constrained inverse eigenvalue problem are presented, and the expression of the solution for the optimal approximation problem is obtained.     

Unitarily achievable zero patterns and traces of words in A and A

Our primary objective is to identify a natural and substantial problem about unitary similarity on arbitrary complex matrices: which 0-patterns may be achieved for any given n-by-n complex matrix via some unitary similarity of it. To this end, certain restrictions on “achievable” 0-patterns are mentioned, both positional and, more important, on the maximum number of achievable 0’s. Prior results fitting this general question are mentioned, as well as the “first” unresolved pattern (for 3-by-3 matrices!). In the process a recent question is answered.A closely related additional objective is to mention the best known bound for the maximum length of words necessary for the application of Specht’s theorem about which pairs of complex matrices are unitarily similar, which seems not widely known to matrix theorists. In the process, we mention the number of words necessary for small size matrices.     

A complete solution of the normal Hankel problem

The normal Hankel problem is the one of characterizing the matrices that are normal and Hankel at the same time. We give a complete solution of this problem.     

An inverse eigenvalue problem and an associated approximation problem for generalized K-centrohermitian matrices

A partially described inverse eigenvalue problem and an associated optimal approximation problem for generalized K-centrohermitian matrices are considered. It is shown under which conditions the inverse eigenproblem has a solution. An expression of its general solution is given. In case a solution of the inverse eigenproblem exists, the optimal approximation problem can be solved. The formula of its unique solution is given.     

Subtotally positive and Monge matrices

A real matrix is called k-subtotally positive if the determinants of all its submatrices of order at most k are positive. We show that for an m × n matrix, only mn inequalities determine such class for every k, 1 ? k ? min(m,n). Spectral properties of square k-subtotally positive matrices are studied. Finally, completion problems for 2-subtotally positive matrices and their additive counterpart, the anti-Monge matrices, are investigated. Since totally positive matrices are 2-subtotally positive as well, the presented necessary conditions for this completion problem are also necessary conditions for totally positive matrices.     

Characterization of ray pattern matrix whose determinantal region has two components after deleting the origin

Ray nonsingular matrices are generalizations of sign nonsingular matrices. The problem of characterizing ray nonsingular matrices is still open. The study of the determinantal regions R_A of ray pattern matrices is closely related to the study of ray nonsingular matrices. It was proved that if R_A?{0} is disconnected, then it is a union of two opposite open sectors (or open rays). In this paper, we characterize those ray patterns whose determinantal regions become disconnected after deleting the origin. The characterization is based on three classes (F1), (F2) and (F3) of matrices, which can further be characterized in terms of the sets of the distinct signed transversal products of their ray patterns. Moreover, we show that in the fully indecomposable case, a matrix A is in the class (F1) (or (F2), respectively) if and only if A is ray permutation equivalent to a real SNS (or non-SNS, respectively) matrix.     

Canonical matrices of bilinear and sesquilinear forms

Canonical matrices are given for

(i)

bilinear forms over an algebraically closed or real closed field;

(ii)

sesquilinear forms over an algebraically closed field and over real quaternions with any nonidentity involution; and

(iii)

sesquilinear forms over a field F of characteristic different from 2 with involution (possibly, the identity) up to classification of Hermitian forms over finite extensions of F; the canonical matrices are based on any given set of canonical matrices for similarity over F.

A method for reducing the problem of classifying systems of forms and linear mappings to the problem of classifying systems of linear mappings is used to construct the canonical matrices. This method has its origins in representation theory and was devised in [V.V. Sergeichuk, Classification problems for systems of forms and linear mappings, Math. USSR-Izv. 31 (1988) 481-501].     

Transportation matrices with staircase patterns and majorization

We consider some questions concerning transportation matrices with a certain nonzero pattern. For a given staircase pattern we characterize those row sum vectors R and column sum vectors S such that the corresponding class of transportation matrices with the given row and column sums and the given pattern is nonempty. Two versions of this problem are considered. Algorithms for finding matrices in these matrix classes are introduced and, finally, a connection to the notion of majorization is discussed.     

HGAH矩阵的逆特征值问题

In this paper, the inverse eigenvalue problem of Hermitian generalized anti-Hamihonian matrices and relevant optimal approximate problem are considered. The necessary and sufficient conditions of the solvability for inverse eigenvalue problem and an expression of the general solution of the problem are derived. The solution of the relevant optimal approximate problem is given.     

On unimodular graphs

We study graphs whose adjacency matrices have determinant equal to 1 or −1, and characterize certain subclasses of these graphs. Graphs whose adjacency matrices are totally unimodular are also characterized. For bipartite graphs having a unique perfect matching, we provide a formula for the inverse of the corresponding adjacency matrix, and address the problem of when that inverse is diagonally similar to a nonnegative matrix. Special attention is paid to the case that such a graph is unicyclic.     

Minimum rank problems

A graph describes the zero-nonzero pattern of a family of matrices, with the type of graph (undirected or directed, simple or allowing loops) determining what type of matrices (symmetric or not necessarily symmetric, diagonal entries free or constrained) are described by the graph. The minimum rank problem of the graph is to determine the minimum among the ranks of the matrices in this family; the determination of maximum nullity is equivalent. This problem has been solved for simple trees [P.M. Nylen, Minimum-rank matrices with prescribed graph, Linear Algebra Appl. 248 (1996) 303-316, C.R. Johnson, A. Leal Duarte, The maximum multiplicity of an eigenvalue in a matrix whose graph is a tree, Linear and Multilinear Algebra 46 (1999) 139-144], trees allowing loops [L.M. DeAlba, T.L. Hardy, I.R. Hentzel, L. Hogben, A. Wangsness. Minimum rank and maximum eigenvalue multiplicity of symmetric tree sign patterns, Linear Algebra Appl. 418 (2006) 389-415], and directed trees allowing loops [F. Barioli, S. Fallat, D. Hershkowitz, H.T. Hall, L. Hogben, H. van der Holst, B. Shader, On the minimum rank of not necessarily symmetric matrices: a preliminary study, Electron. J. Linear Algebra 18 (2000) 126-145]. We survey these results from a unified perspective and solve the minimum rank problem for simple directed trees.     

Dominant matrices and max algebra

We study the class of so-called totally dominant matrices in the usual algebra and in the max algebra in which the sum is the maximum and the multiplication is usual. It turns out that this class coincides with the well known class of positive matrices having positive the determinants of all 2×2 submatrices. The closure of this class is closed not only with respect to the usual but also with respect to the max multiplication. Further properties analogous to those of totally positive matrices are proved and some connections to Monge matrices are mentioned.     

On the eigenvalues of some tridiagonal matrices

A solution is given for a problem on eigenvalues of some symmetric tridiagonal matrices suggested by William Trench. The method presented can be generalizable to other problems.     

Principal minors, Part II: The principal minor assignment problem

The inverse problem of finding a matrix with prescribed principal minors is considered. A condition that implies a constructive algorithm for solving this problem will always succeed is presented. The algorithm is based on reconstructing matrices from their principal submatrices and Schur complements in a recursive manner. Consequences regarding the overdeterminancy of this inverse problem are examined, leading to a faster (polynomial time) version of the algorithmic construction. Care is given in the MATLAB^® implementation of the algorithms regarding numerical stability and accuracy.     

On the 0-1 matrices whose squares are 0-1 matrices

We study the 0-1 matrices whose squares are still 0-1 matrices and determine the maximal number of ones in such a matrix. The maximizing matrices are also specified. This solves a special case of a problem posed by Zhan.     

Intrinsic products and factorizations of matrices

We say that the product of a row vector and a column vector is intrinsic if there is at most one nonzero product of corresponding coordinates. Analogously we speak about intrinsic product of two or more matrices, as well as about intrinsic factorizations of matrices. Since all entries of the intrinsic product are products of entries of the multiplied matrices, there is no addition. We present several examples, together with important applications. These applications include companion matrices and sign-nonsingular matrices.     

Solving balanced Procrustes problem with some constraints by eigenvalue decomposition

The balanced Procrustes problem with some special constraints such as symmetric orthogonality and symmetric idempotence are considered. By one time eigenvalue decomposition of the matrix product generated by the matrices A and B, the constrained solutions are constructed simply. Similar strategy is applied to the problem with the corresponding P-commuting constraints with a given symmetric matrix P. Numerical examples are presented to show the efficiency of the proposed methods.     

Canonical forms for normal matrices that commute with their complex conjugate

We consider the class of normal complex matrices that commute with their complex conjugate. We show that such matrices are real orthogonally similar to a canonical direct sum of 1-by-1 and certain 2-by-2 matrices. A canonical form for quasi-real normal matrices is obtained as a special case. We also exhibit a special form of the spectral theorem for normal matrices that commute with their conjugate.     

Permanents of doubly stochastic matrices with fixed zero pattern

The doubly stochastic matrices with a given zero pattern which are closest in Euclidean norm to J_nn, the matrix with each entry equal to 1/n, are identified. If the permanent is restricted to matrices having a given zero pattern confined to one row or to one column, the permanent achieves a local minimum at those matrices with that zero pattern which are closest to J_nn. This need no longer be true if the zeros lie in more than one row or column.     

Quaternionic matrices: Unitary similarity, simultaneous triangularization and some trace identities

We construct six unitary trace invariants for 2×2 quaternionic matrices which separate the unitary similarity classes of such matrices, and show that this set is minimal. We have discovered a curious trace identity for two unit-speed one-parameter subgroups of Sp(1). A modification gives an infinite family of trace identities for quaternions as well as for 2×2 complex matrices. We were not able to locate these identities in the literature. We prove two quaternionic versions of a well known characterization of triangularizable subalgebras of matrix algebras over an algebraically closed field. Finally we consider the problem of describing the semi-algebraic set of pairs (X,Y) of quaternionic n×n matrices which are simultaneously triangularizable. Even the case n=2, which we analyze in more detail, remains unsolved.