Properties of Euclidean and non-Euclidean distance matrices

A distance matrix D of order n is symmetric with elements $\text{?}\text{1}\text{2}\text{d}{}_{\mathrm{ij}}{}^2$, where d_ii=0. D is Euclidean when the $\text{1}\text{2}\text{n(n?1)}$ quantities d_ij can be generated as the distances between a set of n points, X (n×p), in a Euclidean space of dimension p. The dimensionality of D is defined as the least value of p=rank(X) of any generating X; in general p+1 and p+2 are also acceptable but may include imaginary coordinates, even when D is Euclidean. Basic properties of Euclidean distance matrices are established; in particular, when ρ=rank(D) it is shown that, depending on whether e^TD^?e is not or is zero, the generating points lie in either p=ρ?1 dimensions, in which case they lie on a hypersphere, or in p=ρ?2 dimensions, in which case they do not. (The notation e is used for a vector all of whose values are one.) When D is non-Euclidean its dimensionality p=r+s will comprise r real and s imaginary columns of X, and (r, s) are invariant for all generating X of minimal rank. Higher-ranking representations can arise only from p+1=(r+1)+s or p+1=r+ (s+1) or p+2=(r+1)+(s+1), so that not only are r, s invariant, but they are both minimal for all admissible representations X.