We equip the complex polynomial algebra C[t] with the involution which is the identity on C and sends t to -t. Answering a question raised by V.G. Kac, we show that every hermitian or skew-hermitian matrix over this algebra is congruent to the direct sum of 1 by 1 matrices and 2 by 2 matrices with zero diagonal. Morevover, we show that if two n by n hermitian or skew-hermitian matrices have the same invariant factors, then they are congruent. The complex field can be replaced by any algebraically closed field of characteristic not 2.
Within the framework of the theory of the column and row determinants, we obtain determinantal representations of the Drazin inverse for Hermitian matrix over the quaternion skew field. Using the obtained determinantal representations of the Drazin inverse we get explicit representation formulas (analogs of Cramer's rule) for the Drazin inverse solutions of quaternion matrix equations $ {\bf A}{\bf X} = {\bf D}$, $ {\bf X}{\bf B} = {\bf D} $ and ${\bf A} {\bf X} {\bf B} = {\bf D} $, where $ {\bf A}$, ${\bf B}$ are Hermitian.
We study structurable algebras of skew-dimension one. We present two different equivalent constructions for such algebras: one in terms of non-linear isotopies of cubic norm structures, and one in terms of hermitian cubic norm structures. After this work was essentially finished, we became aware of the fact that both descriptions already occur in (somewhat hidden places in) the literature. Nevertheless, we prove some facts that had not been noticed before: (1) We show that every form of a matrix structurable algebra can be described by our constructions; (2) We give explicit formulas for the n…
Quadratic descent of hermitian and skew hermitian forms over division algebras with involution of the first kind in arbitrary characteristic is investigated and a criterion, in terms of systems of quadratic forms, is obtained. A refined result is also obtained for hermitian (resp. skew hermitian) forms over a quaternion algebra with symplectic (resp. orthogonal) involution.
In this paper, which is a follow-up to [A. Borobia, R. Canogar, F. De Terán, Mediterr. J. Math. 18, 40 (2021)], we provide a necessary and sufficient condition for the matrix equation $X^\top AX=B$ to be consistent when $B$ is symmetric. The condition depends on the canonical form for congruence of the matrix $A$, and is proved to be necessary for all matrices $A$, and sufficient for most of them. This result improves the main one in the previous paper, since the condition is stronger than the one in that reference, and the sufficiency is guaranteed for a larger set of matrices (namely, those …
We study some properties of quadratic forms with values in a field whose underlying vector spaces are endowed with the structure of right vector spaces over a division ring extension of that field. Some generalized notions of isotropy, metabolicity and isometry are introduced and used to find a Witt decomposition for these forms. We then associate to every (skew) hermitian form over a division algebra with involution of the first kind a quadratic form defined on its underlying vector space. It is shown that this quadratic form, with its generalized notions of isotropy and isometry, can be used…
In this paper we extend DDVV-type inequalities involving the Frobenius norm of commutators from real symmetric and skew-symmetric matrices to Hermitian and skew-Hermitian matrices.
Skew polynomial rings over finite fields ([7] and [10]) and over Galois rings ([8]) have been used to study codes. In this paper, we extend this concept to finite chain rings. Properties of skew constacyclic codes generated by monic right divisors of $x^n-λ$, where $λ$ is a unit element, are exhibited. When $λ^2=1$, the generators of Euclidean and Hermitian dual codes of such codes are determined together with necessary and sufficient conditions for them to be Euclidean and Hermitian self-dual. Of more interest are codes over the ring $\mathbb{F}_{p^m}+u\mathbb{F}_{p^m}$. The structure of all …
This paper solves the rational noncommutative analog of Hilbert's 17th problem: if a noncommutative rational function is positive semidefinite on all tuples of hermitian matrices in its domain, then it is a sum of hermitian squares of noncommutative rational functions. This result is a generalization and culmination of earlier positivity certificates for noncommutative polynomials or rational functions without hermitian singularities. More generally, a rational Positivstellensatz for free spectrahedra is given: a noncommutative rational function is positive semidefinite or undefined at every m…
The product of a complex skew-symmetric matrix and its conjugate transpose is a positive semi-definite Hermitian matrix with nonnegative eigenvalues, with a property that each distinct positive eigenvalue has even multiplicity. This property plays a key role for Professor Loo-Keng Hua to establish the unitary equivalence theorem for complex skew-symmetric matrices. We show that this property is no longer true for quaternion skew-symmetric matrices. This poses a difficulty for finding the canonical form of a quaternion skew-symmetric matrix under unitary equivalence, which may be crucial for th…
Given a bilinear form on $\mathbb C^n$, represented by a matrix $A\in\mathbb C^{n\times n}$, the problem of finding the largest dimension of a subspace of $\mathbb C^n$ such that the restriction of $A$ to this subspace is a non-degenerate skew-symmetric bilinear form is equivalent to finding the size of the largest invertible skew-symmetric matrix $B$ such that the equation $X^\top AX=B$ is consistent (here $X^\top$ denotes the transpose of the matrix $X$). In this paper, we provide a characterization, by means of a necessary and sufficient condition, for the matrix equation $X^\top AX=B$ to b…
We classify all non-degenerate skew-hermitian forms defined over certain local rings, not necessarily commutative, and study some of the fundamental properties of the associated unitary groups, including their orders when the ring in question is finite.
Let $\F$ be a field of characteristic different from $2$ and $\V$ be a vector space over $\F$. Let $J: α\to α^J$ be a fixed involutory automorphism on $\F$. In this paper we answer the following question: given an invertible linear map $T: \V \to \V$, when does the vector space $\V$ admit a $T$-invariant non-degenerate $J$-hermitian, resp. $J$-skew-hermitian, form?
In a recent paper, Colliot-Thélène, Parimala and Suresh conjectured that a local-global principle holds for projective homogeneous spaces of connected linear algebraic groups over function fields of p-adic curves. In this paper, we show that the conjecture is true for a linear algebraic group whose almost simple factors of its semisimple part are isogenous to unitary groups or special unitary groups of hermitian or skew-hermitian spaces over central simple algebras with involutions. The proof implements patching techniques of Harbater, Hartmann and Krashen. As an application, we obtain a Sprin…
Let $V$ be a finite-dimensional vector space over a field $\mathbb{F}$, equipped with a symmetric or alternating non-degenerate bilinear form $b$. When the characteristic of $\mathbb{F}$ is not $2$, we characterize the endomorphisms $u$ of $V$ that split into $u=a_1+a_2$ for some pair $(a_1,a_2)$ of $b$-selfadjoint (respectively, $b$-skew-selfadjoint) endomorphisms of $V$ such that $(a_1)^2=(a_2)^2=0$. In the characteristic $2$ case, we obtain a similar classification for the endomorphisms of $V$ that split into the sum of two square-zero $b$-alternating endomorphisms of $V$ when $b$ is altern…
