On orthogonal systems of matrix algebras

In this work it is shown that certain interesting types of orthogonal system of subalgebras (whose existence cannot be ruled out by the trivial necessary conditions) cannot exist. In particular, it is proved that there is no orthogonal decomposition of M_n(C)⊗M_n(C)≡M_n²(C) into a number of maximal abelian subalgebras and factors isomorphic to M_n(C) in which the number of factors would be 1 or 3.In addition, some new tools are introduced, too: for example, a quantity c(A,B), which measures “how close” the subalgebras A,B⊂M_n(C) are to being orthogonal. It is shown that in the main cases of interest, c(A^′,B^′) - where A^′ and B^′ are the commutants of A and B, respectively - can be determined by c(A,B) and the dimensions of A and B. The corresponding formula is used to find some further obstructions regarding orthogonal systems.     

Linear bound on extremal functions of some forbidden patterns in 0-1 matrices

In this note by saying that a 0-1 matrix A avoids a pattern P given as a 0-1 matrix we mean that no submatrix of A either equals P or can be transformed into P by replacing some 1 entries with 0 entries. We present a new method for estimating the maximal number of the 1 entries in a matrix that avoids a certain pattern. Applying this method we give a linear bound on the maximal number of the 1 entries in an n by n matrix avoiding pattern L₁ and thereby we answer the question that was asked by Gábor Tardos. Furthermore, we use our approach on patterns related to L₁.     

On the bounds for the norms of r-circulant matrices with the Fibonacci and Lucas numbers

In this paper, we have found upper and lower bounds for the spectral norms of r-circulant matrices in the forms A = C_r(F₀, F₁, …, F_n−1), B = C_r(L₀, L₁, …, L_n−1), and we have obtained some bounds for the spectral norms of Kronecker and Hadamard products of A and B matrices.     

Linear maps that preserve commuting pairs of matrices

Let L be a linear map on the space of n by n matrices with entries in an algebraically closed field of characteristic 0. In this article we characterize all non-singular L with the property that AB = BA implies L(A)L(B) = L(B)L(A).     

On the determinants and inverses of circulant matrices with Fibonacci and Lucas numbers

Let A_n=Circ(F₁,F₂,…,F_n) and B_n=Circ(L₁,L₂,…,L_n) be circulant matrices, where F_n is the Fibonacci number and L_n is the Lucas number. We prove that A_n is invertible for n > 2, and B_n is invertible for any positive integer n. Afterwards, the values of the determinants of matrices A_n and B_n can be expressed by utilizing only the Fibonacci and Lucas numbers. In addition, the inverses of matrices A_n and B_n are derived.     

The Hilbert-Chow morphism and the incidence divisor: Zero-cycles and divisors

For a smooth projective variety X of dimension n, on the product of Chow varieties C_a(X)×C_n−a−1(X) parameterizing pairs (A,B) of an a-cycle A and an (n−a−1)-cycle B in X, Barry Mazur raised the problem of constructing a Cartier divisor supported on the locus of pairs with A∩B≠0?. We introduce a new approach to this problem, and new techniques supporting this approach.     

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.     

Congruence of Hermitian matrices by Hermitian matrices

Two Hermitian matrices A,B∈M_n(C) are said to be Hermitian-congruent if there exists a nonsingular Hermitian matrix C∈M_n(C) such that B=CAC. In this paper, we give necessary and sufficient conditions for two nonsingular simultaneously unitarily diagonalizable Hermitian matrices A and B to be Hermitian-congruent. Moreover, when A and B are Hermitian-congruent, we describe the possible inertias of the Hermitian matrices C that carry the congruence. We also give necessary and sufficient conditions for any 2-by-2 nonsingular Hermitian matrices to be Hermitian-congruent. In both of the studied cases, we show that if A and B are real and Hermitian-congruent, then they are congruent by a real symmetric matrix. Finally we note that if A and B are 2-by-2 nonsingular real symmetric matrices having the same sign pattern, then there is always a real symmetric matrix C satisfying B=CAC. Moreover, if both matrices are positive, then C can be picked with arbitrary inertia.     

On rational invariants of a set of symmetric matrices

Some identities resulting from the Cayley-Hamilton theorem are derived. Some applications include: (a) for k = 1,2,…,n ? 1 a condition is found for a pair (A,B) of symmetric operators acting in Euclidean n-space to have common invariant k-subspace (provided that A does not have multiple eigenvalues); (b) it is shown that the field of rational invariants of (A,B) is isomorphic to a subfield of a rational function field with n(n+3)/2 generators consisting of elements symmetric with respect to the permutaion group P_n; (c) it is shown that any rational invariant of (g+2) symmetric operators A,B,C₁,C₂,…, C_g can be expressed as a rational function of invariants of one or two operators that are taken for pairs (A,B), (A,C₂),…, (A,C_g, (A,B+C₁), (A,B+C₂),…,(A,B+C_g).     

No eigenvalues outside the support of the limiting empirical spectral distribution of a separable covariance matrix

We consider a class of matrices of the form , where X_n is an n×N matrix consisting of i.i.d. standardized complex entries, is a nonnegative definite square root of the nonnegative definite Hermitian matrix A_n, and B_n is diagonal with nonnegative diagonal entries. Under the assumption that the distributions of the eigenvalues of A_n and B_n converge to proper probability distributions as , the empirical spectral distribution of C_n converges a.s. to a non-random limit. We show that, under appropriate conditions on the eigenvalues of A_n and B_n, with probability 1, there will be no eigenvalues in any closed interval outside the support of the limiting distribution, for sufficiently large n. The problem is motivated by applications in spatio-temporal statistics and wireless communications.     

A quasicancellation property for the direct product of graphs

We are motivated by the following question concerning the direct product of graphs. If A×C≅B×C, what can be said about the relationship between A and B? If cancellation fails, what properties must A and B share? We define a structural equivalence relation ∼ (called similarity) on graphs, weaker than isomorphism, for which A×C≅B×C implies A∼B. Thus cancellation holds, up to similarity. Moreover, if C is bipartite, then A×C≅B×C if and only if A∼B. We conjecture that the prime factorization of connected bipartite graphs is unique up to similarity of factors, and we offer some results supporting this conjecture.     

Isometric properties of elementary operators

We consider the elementary operator L, acting on the Hilbert-Schmidt Class C₂(H), given by L(T)=ATB, with A and B bounded operators on H. We establish necessary and sufficient conditions on A and B for L to be a 2-isometry or a 3-isometry. We derive sufficient conditions for L to be an n-isometry. We also give several illustrative examples involving the weighted shift operator on l₂ and the multiplication operator on the Dirichlet space.     

Products of two involutions with prescribed eigenvalues and some applications

Let F be a field. In [Djokovic, Product of two involutions, Arch. Math. 18 (1967) 582-584] it was proved that a matrix A∈F^n×n can be written as A=BC, for some involutions B,C∈F^n×n, if and only if A is similar to A^-1. In this paper we describe the possible eigenvalues of the matrices B and C.As a consequence, in case charF≠2, we describe the possible similarity classes of (P₁₁⊕P₂₂)P^-1, when the nonsingular matrix P=[P_ij]∈F^n×n, i,j∈{1,2} and P₁₁∈F^s×s, varies.When F is an algebraically closed field and charF≠2, we also describe the possible similarity classes of [A_ij]∈F^n×n, i,j∈{1,2}, when A₁₁ and A₂₂ are square zero matrices and A₁₂ and A₂₁ vary.     

On simultaneous diagonalization of one Hermitian and one symmetric form

It is remarked that if A, B ? M_n(C), A = A^t, and B? = B^t, B positive definite, there exists a nonsingular matrix U such that (1) ū^tBU = I and (2) U^tAU is a diagonal matrix with nonnegative entries. Some related actions of the real orthogonal group and equations involving the unitary group are studied.     

On a restricted cross-intersection problem

Suppose A and B are families of subsets of an n-element set and L is a set of s numbers. We say that the pair (A,B) is L-cross-intersecting if |A∩B|∈L for every A∈A and B∈B. Among such pairs (A,B) we write PL(n) for the maximum possible value of |A||B|. In this paper we find an exact bound for PL(n) when n is sufficiently large, improving earlier work of Sgall. We also determine P{2}(n) and P{1,2}(n) exactly, which respectively confirm special cases of a conjecture of Ahlswede, Cai and Zhang and a conjecture of Sgall.     

A note on k-potence preserving maps

Let M_n be the algebra of all n×n complex matrices and Γ_n the set of all k-potent matrices in M_n. Suppose ?:M_n→M_n is a map satisfying A-λB∈Γ_n implies ?(A)-λ?(B)∈Γ_n, where A, B∈M_n, λ∈C. Then either ? is of the form ?(A)=cTAT^-1, A∈M_n, or ? is of the form ?(A)=cTA^tT^-1, A∈M_n, where T∈M_n is an invertible matrix, c∈C satisfies c^k=c.     

On direct product cancellation of graphs

The direct product of graphs obeys a limited cancellation property. Lovász proved that if C has an odd cycle then A×C≅B×C if and only if A≅B, but cancellation can fail if C is bipartite. This note investigates the ways cancellation can fail. Given a graph A and a bipartite graph C, we classify the graphs B for which A×C≅B×C. Further, we give exact conditions on A that guarantee A×C≅B×C implies A≅B. Combined with Lovász’s result, this completely characterizes the situations in which cancellation holds or fails.     

On ranges of Lyapunov transformations

A Lyapunov transformation is a linear transformation on the set $\text{H}$_n of hermitian matrices H ? $\text{C}$^n,n of the form $\text{L}$_A(H) = A¹H + HA, where A ?$\text{C}$^n,n. Given a positive stable A ?$\text{C}$^n,n, the Stein-Pfeffer Theorem characterizes those K ? $\text{H}$_n for which K = $\text{L}$_B(H), where B is similar to A and H is positive definite. We give a new proof of this result, and extend it in several directions. The proofs involve the idea of a controllability subspace, employed previously in this context by Snyders and Zakai.     

Difference Covering Arrays and Pseudo-Orthogonal Latin Squares

A pair of Latin squares, A and B, of order n, is said to be pseudo-orthogonal if each symbol in A is paired with every symbol in B precisely once, except for one symbol with which it is paired twice and one symbol with which it is not paired at all. A set of t Latin squares, of order n, are said to be mutually pseudo-orthogonal if they are pairwise pseudo-orthogonal. A special class of pseudo-orthogonal Latin squares are the mutually nearly orthogonal Latin squares (MNOLS) first discussed in 2002, with general constructions given in 2007. In this paper we develop row complete MNOLS from difference covering arrays. We will use this connection to settle the spectrum question for sets of 3 mutually pseudo-orthogonal Latin squares of even order, for all but the order 146.     

Bijective linear maps on semimodules spanned by Boolean matrices of fixed rank

Let M_m,n(B) be the semimodule of all m×n Boolean matrices where B is the Boolean algebra with two elements. Let k be a positive integer such that 2?k?min(m,n). Let B(m,n,k) denote the subsemimodule of M_m,n(B) spanned by the set of all rank k matrices. We show that if T is a bijective linear mapping on B(m,n,k), then there exist permutation matrices P and Q such that T(A)=PAQ for all A∈B(m,n,k) or m=n and T(A)=PA^tQ for all A∈B(m,n,k). This result follows from a more general theorem we prove concerning the structure of linear mappings on B(m,n,k) that preserve both the weight of each matrix and rank one matrices of weight k². Here the weight of a Boolean matrix is the number of its nonzero entries.