Alexandrov’s inequality and conjectures on some Toeplitz matrices

We study determinant inequalities for certain Toeplitz-like matrices over C. For fixed n and N ? 1, let Q be the n × (n + N − 1) zero-one Toeplitz matrix with Q_ij = 1 for 0 ? j − i ? N − 1 and Q_ij = 0 otherwise. We prove that det(QQ^∗) is the minimum of det(RR^∗) over all complex matrices R with the same dimensions as Q satisfying ∣R_ij∣ ? 1 whenever Q_ij = 1 and R_ij = 0 otherwise. Although R has a Toeplitz-like band structure, it is not required to be actually Toeplitz. Our proof involves Alexandrov’s inequality for polarized determinants and its generalizations. This problem is motivated by Littlewood’s conjecture on the minimum 1-norm of N-term exponential sums on the unit circle. We also discuss polarized Bazin-Reiss-Picquet identities, some connections with k-tree enumeration, and analogous conjectured inequalities for the elementary symmetric functions of QQ^∗.     

A note on “Constructing matrices with prescribed off-diagonal submatrix and invariant polynomials”

Let F be any field and let B a matrix of F^q×p. Zaballa found necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of a matrix A=[A_ij]_i,j∈{1,2}∈F^(p+q)×(p+q) with prescribed similarity class and such that A₂₁=B. In an earlier paper [A. Borobia, R. Canogar, Constructing matrices with prescribed off-diagonal submatrix and invariant polynomials, Linear Algebra Appl. 424 (2007) 615-633] we obtained, for fields of characteristic different from 2, a finite step algorithm to construct A when it exists. In this short note we extend the algorithm to any field.     

Lie algebras generated by bounded linear operators on Hilbert spaces

It is proved that the operator Lie algebra ε(T,T^∗) generated by a bounded linear operator T on Hilbert space H is finite-dimensional if and only if T=N+Q, N is a normal operator, [N,Q]=0, and dimA(Q,Q^∗)<+∞, where ε(T,T^∗) denotes the smallest Lie algebra containing T,T^∗, and A(Q,Q^∗) denotes the associative subalgebra of B(H) generated by Q,Q^∗. Moreover, we also give a sufficient and necessary condition for operators to generate finite-dimensional semi-simple Lie algebras. Finally, we prove that if ε(T,T^∗) is an ad-compact E-solvable Lie algebra, then T is a normal operator.     

Completing an extension of Tunnell's theorem

We look at a special case of a familiar problem: Given a locally compact group G, a subgroup H and a complex representation π₊ of G how does π₊ decompose on restriction to H. Here G is GL⁺(2,F), where F is a nonarchimedian local field of characteristic not two, K a separable quadratic extension of F, GL⁺(2,F) the subgroup of index 2 in GL(2,F) consisting of those matrices whose determinant is in NK/F(K^∗), π₊ is an irreducible, admissible supercuspidal representation of GL⁺(2,F) and H=K^∗ under an embedding of K^∗ into GL(2,F).     

Characterizations of EP matrices and weighted-EP matrices

A square complex matrix A is said to be EP if A and its conjugate transpose A^∗ have the same range. In this paper, we first collect a group of known characterizations of EP matrix, and give some new characterizations of EP matrices. Then, we define weighted-EP matrix, and present a wealth of characterizations for weighted-EP matrix through various rank formulas for matrices and their generalized inverses.     

Hankel planes

Starting from an (m+1)×(n+1) matrix A one can construct (m+p+1)×(n+1)(p+1) block Toeplitz matrices , p≥0, based on the rows of A. The connections between the ranks of the two matrices is studied by comparing the corresponding vector spaces of row relations R and R(p). A main tool are the Hankel matrices with rows in R. The dimension of R(p) is determined in terms of geometric invariants attached to the Hankel matrices with rows in R. The study of Hankel r-planes of P^m, for r≥1, turns out to be very useful and interesting in itself since they constitute a subvariety of the Grassmannian G(r,m).     

Palindromic matrix polynomials, matrix functions and integral representations

We study the properties of palindromic quadratic matrix polynomials φ(z)=P+Qz+Pz², i.e., quadratic polynomials where the coefficients P and Q are square matrices, and where the constant and the leading coefficients are equal. We show that, for suitable choices of the matrix coefficients P and Q, it is possible to characterize by means of φ(z) well known matrix functions, namely the matrix square root, the matrix polar factor, the matrix sign and the geometric mean of two matrices. Finally we provide some integral representations of these matrix functions.     

Twisted inner products and contraction inequalities on spaces of contravariant and covariant tensors

Given positive integers n and p, and a complex finite dimensional vector space V, we let S_n,p(V) denote the set of all functions from V×V×?×V-(n+p copies) to C that are linear and symmetric in the first n positions, and conjugate linear symmetric in the last p positions. Letting κ=min{n,p} we introduce twisted inner products, [·,·]_s,t,1?s,t?κ, on S_n,p(V), and prove the monotonicity condition [F,F]_s,t?[F,F]_u,v is satisfied when s?u?κ,t?v?κ, and F∈S_n,p(V). Using the monotonicity condition, and the Cauchy-Schwartz inequality, we obtain as corollaries many known inequalities involving norms of symmetric multilinear functions, which in turn imply known inequalities involving permanents of positive semidefinite Hermitian matrices. New tensor and permanental inequalities are also presented. Applications to partial differential equations are indicated.     

Thin Hessenberg pairs

A square matrix is called Hessenberg whenever each entry below the subdiagonal is zero and each entry on the subdiagonal is nonzero. Let V denote a nonzero finite-dimensional vector space over a field K. We consider an ordered pair of linear transformations A:V→V and A^∗:V→V which satisfy both (i) and (ii) below.

(i)

There exists a basis for V with respect to which the matrix representing A is Hessenberg and the matrix representing A^∗ is diagonal.

(ii)

There exists a basis for V with respect to which the matrix representing A is diagonal and the matrix representing A^∗ is Hessenberg.

We call such a pair a thin Hessenberg pair (or TH pair). This is a special case of a Hessenberg pair which was introduced by the author in an earlier paper. We investigate several bases for V with respect to which the matrices representing A and A^∗ are attractive. We display these matrices along with the transition matrices relating the bases. We introduce an “oriented” version of called a TH system. We classify the TH systems up to isomorphism.     

An alternative approach to unitoidness

In a recent paper [C.R. Johnson, S. Furtado, A generalization of Sylvester’s law of inertia, Linear Algebra Appl. 338 (2001) 287-290], Sylvester’s law of inertia is generalized to any matrix that is ∗-congruent to a diagonal matrix. Such a matrix is called unitoid. In the present paper, an alternative approach to the subject of unitoidness is offered. Specifically, Sylvester’s law of inertia states that a Hermitian n × n matrix of rank r with inertia (p, q, n − r) is ∗-congruent to the direct sum

eⁱ⁰I_p⊕e^iπI_q⊕0I_n-r.     

Procrustes problems and associated approximation problems for matrices with k-involutory symmetries

We say that a matrix R∈C^n×n is k-involutary if its minimal polynomial is x^k-1 for some k?2, so R^k-1=R^-1 and the eigenvalues of R are 1,ζ,ζ²,…,ζ^k-1, where ζ=e^2πi/k. Let α,μ∈{0,1,…,k-1}. If R∈C^m×m, A∈C^m×n, S∈C^n×n and R and S are k-involutory, we say that A is (R,S,μ)-symmetric if RAS^-1=ζ^μA, and A is (R,S,α,μ)-symmetric if RAS^-α=ζ^μA.Let L be the class of m×n(R,S,μ)-symmetric matrices or the class of m×n(R,S,α,μ)-symmetric matrices. Given X∈C^n×t and B∈C^m×t, we characterize the matrices A in L that minimize ‖AX-B‖ (Frobenius norm), and, given an arbitrary W∈C^m×n, we find the unique matrix A∈L that minimizes both ‖AX-B‖ and ‖A-W‖. We also obtain necessary and sufficient conditions for existence of A∈L such that AX=B, and, assuming that the conditions are satisfied, characterize the set of all such A.     

On classical adjoint-commuting mappings between matrix algebras

Let F be a field and let m and n be integers with m,n?3. Let M_n denote the algebra of n×n matrices over F. In this note, we characterize mappings ψ:M_n→M_m that satisfy one of the following conditions:

1.

|F|=2 or |F|>n+1, and ψ(adj(A+αB))=adj(ψ(A)+αψ(B)) for all A,B∈M_n and α∈F with ψ(I_n)≠0.

2.

ψ is surjective and ψ(adj(A-B))=adj(ψ(A)-ψ(B)) for every A,B∈M_n.

Here, adjA denotes the classical adjoint of the matrix A, and I_n is the identity matrix of order n. We give examples showing the indispensability of the assumption ψ(I_n)≠0 in our results.     

When is the numerical range of a nilpotent matrix circular?

The problem formulated in the title is investigated. The case of nilpotent matrices of size at most 4 allows a unitary treatment. The numerical range of a nilpotent matrix M of size at most 4 is circular if and only if the traces tr M^∗M² and tr M^∗M³ are null. The situation becomes more complicated as soon as the size is 5. The conditions under which a 5×5 nilpotent matrix has circular numerical range are thoroughly discussed.     

On (0, 1)-matrices with prescribed row and column sum vectors

Given partitions R and S with the same weight, the Robinson-Schensted-Knuth correspondence establishes a bijection between the class A(R,S) of (0, 1)-matrices with row sum R and column sum S and pairs of Young tableaux of conjugate shapes λ and λ^∗, with S?λ?R^∗. An algorithm for constructing a matrix in A(R,S) whose insertion tableau has a prescribed shape λ, with S?λ?R^∗, is provided. We generalize some recent constructions due to R. Brualdi for the extremal cases λ=S and λ=R^∗.     

Google PageRanking problem: The model and the analysis

The spectral and Jordan structures of the Web hyperlink matrix G(c)=cG+(1−c)ev^T have been analyzed when G is the basic (stochastic) Google matrix, c is a real parameter such that 0<c<1, v is a nonnegative probability vector, and e is the all-ones vector. Typical studies have relied heavily on special properties of nonnegative, positive, and stochastic matrices. There is a unique nonnegative vector y(c) such that y(c)^TG(c)=y(c)^T and y(c)^Te=1. This PageRank vector y(c) can be computed effectively by the power method.We consider a square complex matrix A and nonzero complex vectors x and v such that Ax=λx and v^∗x=1. We use standard matrix analytic tools to determine the eigenvalues, the Jordan blocks, and a distinguished left λ-eigenvector of A(c)=cA+(1−c)λxv^∗ as a function of a complex variable c. If λ is a semisimple eigenvalue of A, there is a uniquely determined projection N such that lim_c→1y(c)=Nv for all v; this limit may fail to exist for some v if λ is not semisimple. As a special case of our results, we obtain a complex analog of PageRank for the Web hyperlink matrix G(c) with a complex parameter c. We study regularity, limits, expansions, and conditioning of y(c) and we propose algorithms (e.g., complex extrapolation, power method on a modified matrix etc.) that may provide an efficient way to compute PageRank also with c close or equal to 1. An interpretation of the limit vector Nv and a related critical discussion on the model, on its adherence to reality, and possible ways for its improvement, represent the contribution of the paper on modeling issues.     

Some lower bounds for the spectral radius of matrices using traces

Let A be an n×n matrix with eigenvalues λ₁,λ₂,…,λ_n, and let m be an integer satisfying rank(A)?m?n. If A is real, the best possible lower bound for its spectral radius in terms of m, trA and trA² is obtained. If A is any complex matrix, two lower bounds for are compared, and furthermore a new lower bound for the spectral radius is given only in terms of trA,trA²,‖A‖,‖A^∗A-AA^∗‖,n and m.     

A completion theorem for pro-G-spectra

We give a very general completion theorem for pro-spectra. We show that, if G is a compact Lie group, M[∗] is a pro-G-spectrum, and F is a family of (closed) subgroups of G, then the mapping pro-spectrum F(EF₊,M[∗]) is the F-adic completion of M[∗], in the sense that the map M[∗]→F(EF₊,M[∗]) is the universal map into an algebraically F-adically complete pro-spectrum. Here, F(EF₊,M[∗]) denotes the pro-G-spectrum , where runs over the finite subcomplexes of EF₊.