Square matrices with integer eigenvalues under entry permutations

Abstract

We investigate the problem of which multisets of integer entries yield integer eigenvalues in every square matrix arrangement? Combining module reduction with a dyadic criterion for complete splitting of cubic polynomials, we first show that if the multiset has at least one zero entry, the only possibilities have either at most one nonzero entry or exactly two whose product is a perfect square. We then apply block embedding to extend it to higher dimensions, by obtaining a linear threshold on the number of zeros. For any multiset close to a nonzero constant, we use rank reduction to derive an exact criterion for one exceptional entry, thus yielding nonconstant examples in infinitely many dimensions, and to also derive an exact reduction for two distinct exceptional entries in dimension three. The general fully nonzero three-dimensional case remains open.