Primitive zero-symmetric sign pattern matrices with the maximum base

In [B. Cheng, B. Liu, The base sets of primitive zero-symmetric sign pattern matrices, Linear Algebra Appl. 428 (2008) 715-731], Cheng and Liu studied the bases of primitive zero-symmetric sign pattern matrices. The sharp upper bound of the bases was obtained. In this paper, we characterize the sign pattern matrices with the sharp bound.     

The base sets of primitive zero-symmetric sign pattern matrices

In [J.Y. Shao, L.H. You, Bound on the base of irreducible generalized sign pattern matrices, Discrete Math., in press], Shao and You extended the concept of the base from powerful sign pattern matrices to non-powerful (and generalized) sign pattern matrices. In this paper, we study the bases of primitive zero-symmetric sign pattern (and generalized sign pattern) matrices. Sharp upper bounds of the bases are obtained. We also show that there exist no “gaps” in the base sets of the classes of such matrices.     

Sign regular matrices and Neville elimination

A pivoting strategy of O(n) operations for the Neville elimination of n × n nonsingular sign regular matrices is introduced. Among other nice properties, it is proved that it preserves sign regularity. It is also shown its relationship with scaled partial pivoting strategies for Neville elimination.     

Total nonpositivity of nonsingular matrices

In this paper, nonsingular totally nonpositive matrices are studied and new characterizations are provided in terms of the signs of minors with consecutive initial rows or consecutive initial columns. These characterizations extend an existing characterization that uses some restrictive hypotheses.     

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.     

A forbidden structure of ray nonsingular matrices

A complex square matrix is called a ray nonsingular matrix (RNS matrix) if its ray pattern implies that it is nonsingular. In this paper, a necessary condition for RNS matrices is provided by showing that if A=I−A(D)$A=I-A(D)$ is ray nonsingular, then the arc weighted digraph D contains no forbidden cycle chains.     

Monotonicity for entrywise functions of matrices

We characterize real functions f on an interval (-α,α) for which the entrywise matrix function [a_ij]?[f(a_ij)] is positive, monotone, and convex, respectively, in the positive semidefiniteness order. Fractional power functions are exemplified and related weak majorizations are shown.     

Potentially nilpotent and spectrally arbitrary even cycle sign patterns

An n × n sign pattern S_n is potentially nilpotent if there is a real matrix having sign pattern S_n and characteristic polynomial xⁿ. A new family of sign patterns C_n with a cycle of every even length is introduced and shown to be potentially nilpotent by explicitly determining the entries of a nilpotent matrix with sign pattern C_n. These nilpotent matrices are used together with a Jacobian argument to show that C_n is spectrally arbitrary, i.e., there is a real matrix having sign pattern C_n and characteristic polynomial for any real μ_i. Some results and a conjecture on minimality of these spectrally arbitrary sign patterns are given.     

On common invariant cones for families of matrices

The existence and construction of common invariant cones for families of real matrices is considered. The complete results are obtained for 2×2 matrices (with no additional restrictions) and for families of simultaneously diagonalizable matrices of any size. Families of matrices with a shared dominant eigenvector are considered under some additional conditions.     

Intervals of totally nonnegative matrices

Totally nonnegative matrices, i.e., matrices having all their minors nonnegative, and matrix intervals with respect to the checkerboard ordering are considered. It is proven that if the two bound matrices of such a matrix interval are nonsingular and totally nonnegative (and in addition all their zero minors are identical) then all matrices from this interval are also nonsingular and totally nonnegative (with identical zero minors).     

A note on the perturbation of positive matrices by normal and unitary matrices

In a recent paper, Neumann and Sze considered for an n × n nonnegative matrix A, the minimization and maximization of ρ(A + S), the spectral radius of (A + S), as S ranges over all the doubly stochastic matrices. They showed that both extremal values are always attained at an n × n permutation matrix. As a permutation matrix is a particular case of a normal matrix whose spectral radius is 1, we consider here, for positive matrices A such that (A + N) is a nonnegative matrix, for all normal matrices N whose spectral radius is 1, the minimization and maximization problems of ρ(A + N) as N ranges over all such matrices. We show that the extremal values always occur at an n × n real unitary matrix. We compare our results with a less recent work of Han, Neumann, and Tastsomeros in which the maximum value of ρ(A + X) over all n × n real matrices X of Frobenius norm was sought.     

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 generators of bounded ratios of minors for totally positive matrices

We provide a method for factoring all bounded ratios of the form

     

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.     

Notes on Hilbert and Cauchy matrices

Inspired by examples of small Hilbert matrices, the author proves a property of symmetric totally positive Cauchy matrices, called AT-property, and consequences for the Hilbert matrix.     

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.     

Some new bounds on the spectral radius of matrices

A new lower bound on the smallest eigenvalue τ(AB) for the Fan product of two nonsingular M-matrices A and B is given. Meanwhile, we also obtain a new upper bound on the spectral radius ρ(A°B) for nonnegative matrices A and B. These bounds improve some results of Huang (2008) [R. Huang, Some inequalities for the Hadamard product and the Fan product of matrices, Linear Algebra Appl. 428 (2008) 1551-1559].     

Minimum deviation, quasi-LU factorization of nonsingular matrices

Not all matrices enjoy the existence of an LU factorization. For those that do not, a number of “repairs” are possible. For nonsingular matrices we offer here a permutation-free repair in which the matrix is factored , with and collectively as near as possible to lower and upper triangular (in a natural sense defined herein). Such factorization is not generally unique in any sense. In the process, we investigate further the structure of matrices without LU factorization and permutations that produce an LU factorization.     

Perturbing non-real eigenvalues of non-negative real matrices

Let σ=(ρ,b+ic,b-ic,λ₄,…,λ_n) be the spectrum of an entry non-negative matrix and t?0. Laffey [T. J. Laffey, Perturbing non-real eigenvalues of nonnegative real matrices, Electron. J. Linear Algebra 12 (2005) 73-76] has shown that σ=(ρ+2t,b-t+ic,b-t-ic,λ₄,…,λ_n) is also the spectrum of some nonnegative matrix. Laffey (2005) has used a rank one perturbation for small t and then used a compactness argument to extend the result to all nonnegative t. In this paper, a rank two perturbation is used to deduce an explicit and constructive proof for all t?0.