Numerical Ranges of KMS Matrices

Abstract

A KMS matrix is one of the form $$J_n(a)=[{array}{ccccc} 0 & a & a^2 &... & a^{n-1} & 0 & a & \ddots & \vdots & & \ddots & \ddots & a^2 & & & \ddots & a 0 & & & & 0{array}]$$ for $n\ge 1$ and $a$ in $\mathbb{C}$. Among other things, we prove the following properties of its numerical range: (1) $W(J_n(a))$ is a circular disc if and only if $n=2$ and $a\neq 0$, (2) its boundary $\partial W(J_n(a))$ contains a line segment if and only if $n\ge 3$ and $|a|=1$, and (3) the intersection of the boundaries $\partial W(J_n(a))$ and $\partial W(J_n(a)[j])$ is either the singleton $\{\min\sigma(\re J_n(a))\}$ if $n$ is odd, $j=(n+1)/2$ and $|a|>1$, or the empty set $\emptyset$ if otherwise, where, for any $n$-by-$n$ matrix $A$, $A[j]$ denotes its $j$th principal submatrix obtained by deleting its $j$th row and $j$th column ($1\le j\le n$), $\re A$ its real part $(A+A^*)/2$, and $\sigma(A)$ its spectrum.