Simultaneous similarity of matrices

In this paper we solve completely and explicitly the long-standing problem of classifying pairs of n × n complex matrices (A, B) under the simultaneous similarity (TAT⁻¹, TBT⁻¹). Roughly speaking, the classification decomposes to a finite number of steps. In each step we consider an open algebraic set ⁰_n,2,r,π M_n × M_n (M_n = the set of n × n complex-valued matrices). Here r and π are two positive integers. Then we construct a finite number of rational functions ø₁,…,ø_s in the entries of A and B whose values are constant on all pairs similar in _n,2,r,π to (A, B). The values of the functions ø_i(A, B), I = 1,…, s, determine a finite number (at most κ(n, 2, r)) of similarity classes in _n,2,r,π. Let S_n be the subspace of complex symmetric matrices in M_n. For (A, B) ε S_n × S_n we consider the similarity class (TAT^t, TBT^t), where T ranges over all complex orthogonal matrices. Then the characteristic polynomial |λI − (A + xB)| determines a finite number of similarity classes for almost all pairs (A, B) ε S_n × S_n.