Linear operators preserving unitarily invariant norms of matrices

Let F_{m × n} be the set of all m × n matrices over the field F = C or R Denote by U_n(F) the group of all n × n unitary or orthogonal matrices according as F = C or F-R. A norm N() on Fm ×n, is unitarily invariant if N(UAV) = N(A): for all A ∈ F _m×n U ∈ U_m(F). and V ∈ U_n(F). We characterize those linear operators TF_{m × n} → F_{m × n}which satisfy N (T(A)) = N(A)for all A ∈ F_{m × n}

for a given unitarily invariant norm N(). It is shown that the problem is equivalent to characterizing those operators which preserve certain subsets in F_{m × n} To develop the theory we prove some results concerning unitary operators on F_{m × n} which are of independent interest.