arXiv subjects

Charles R. Johnson

Publications and source records attributed to Charles R. Johnson.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2025

Perron similarities and the nonnegative inverse eigenvalue problem

The longstanding nonnegative inverse eigenvalue problem (NIEP) is to determine which multisets of complex numbers occur as the spectrum of an entry-wise nonnegative matrix. Although there are some well-known necessary conditions, a solution to the NIEP is far from known. An invertible matrix is called a Perron similarity if it diagonalizes an irreducible, nonnegative matrix. Johnson and Paparella developed the theory of real Perron similarities. Here, we fully develop the theory of complex Perron similarities. Each Perron similarity gives a nontrivial polyhedral cone and polytope of realizable spectra (thought of as vectors in complex Euclidean space). The extremals of these convex sets are finite in number, and their determination for each Perron similarity would solve the diagonalizable NIEP, a major portion of the entire problem. By considering Perron similarities of certain realizing matrices of Type I Karpelevich arcs, large portions of realizable spectra are generated for a given positive integer. This is demonstrated by producing a nearly complete geometrical representation of the spectra of $4 \times 4$ stochastic matrices. Similar to the Karpelevich region, it is shown that the subset of complex Euclidean space comprising the spectra of stochastic matrices is compact and star-shaped. Extremal elements of the set are defined and shown to be on the boundary. It is shown that the polyhedral cone and convex polytope of the discrete Fourier transform (DFT) matrix corresponds to the conical hull and convex hull of its rows, respectively. Similar results are established for multifold Kronecker products of DFT matrices and multifold Kronecker products of DFT matrices and Walsh matrices. These polytopes are of great significance with respect to the NIEP because they are extremal in the region comprising the spectra of stochastic matrices.

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arXiv2024

Sufficient conditions for total positivity, compounds, and Dodgson condensation

A $n$-by-$n$ matrix is called totally positive ($TP$) if all its minors are positive and $TP_k$ if all of its $k$-by-$k$ submatrices are $TP$. For an arbitrary totally positive matrix or $TP_k$ matrix, we investigate if the $r$th compound ($1<r<n$) is in turn $TP$ or $TP_k$, and demonstrate a strong negative resolution in general. Focus is then shifted to Dodgson's algorithm for calculating the determinant of a generic matrix, and we analyze whether the associated condensed matrices are possibly totally positive or $TP_k$. We also show that all condensed matrices associated with a $TP$ Hankel matrix are $TP$.

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arXiv2023

Indices of diagonalizable and universal realizability of spectra

A list $Λ=\{λ_{1},\ldots ,λ_{n}\}$ of complex numbers (repeats allowed) is said to be \textit{realizable} if it is the spectrum of an entrywise nonnegative matrix $A$. $Λ$ is \textit{diagonalizably realizable} if the realizing matrix $A$ is diagonalizable. $Λ$ is said to be \textit{universally realizable} if it is \textit{\ realizable} for each possible Jordan canonical form allowed by $Λ.$ Here, we study the connection between diagonalizable realizability and universal realizability of spectra. In particular, we establish \textit{\ indices of realizability} for diagonalizable and universal realizability. We also define the merge of two spectra and we prove a result that allow us to easily decide, in many cases, about the universal realizability of spectra.

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arXiv2022

$k$-NIM trees: Characterization and Enumeration

Among those real symmetric matrices whose graph is a given tree $T$, the maximum multiplicity $M(T)$ that can be attained by an eigenvalue is known to be the path cover number of $T$. We say that a tree is $k$-NIM if, whenever an eigenvalue attains a multiplicity of $k-1$ less than the maximum multiplicity, all other multiplicities are $1$. $1$-NIM trees are known as NIM trees, and a characterization for NIM trees is already known. Here we provide a graph-theoretic characterization for $k$-NIM trees for each $k\geq 1$, as well as count them. It follows from the characterization that $k$-NIM trees exist on $n$ vertices only when $k=1,2,3$. In case $k=3$, the only $3$-NIM trees are simple stars.

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arXiv2022

The Inverse Eigenvalue Problem for Linear Trees

We prove the sufficiency of the Linear Superposition Principle for linear trees, which characterizes the spectra achievable by a real symmetric matrix whose underlying graph is a linear tree. The necessity was previously proven in 2014. This is the most general class of trees for which the inverse eigenvalue problem has been solved. We explore many consequences, including the Degree Conjecture for possible spectra, upper bounds for the minimum number of eigenvalues of multiplicity $1$, and the equality of the diameter of a linear tree and its minimum number of distinct eigenvalues, etc.

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arXiv2021

Total positivity of sums, Hadamard products and Hadamard powers: Results and counterexamples

We show that, for Hankel matrices, total nonnegativity (resp. total positivity) of order r is preserved by sum, Hadamard product, and Hadamard power with real exponent t \ge r-2. We give examples to show that our results are sharp relative to matrix size and structure (general, symmetric or Hankel). Some of these examples also resolve the Hadamard critical-exponent problem for totally positive and totally nonnegative matrices.

math.AC↗

arXiv2020

Matricial Proofs of Some Classical Results about Critical Point Location

The Gauss--Lucas and Bôcher--Grace--Marden theorems are classical results in the geometry of polynomials. Proofs of the these results are available in the literature, but the approaches are seemingly different. In this work, we show that these theorems can be proven in a unified theoretical framework utilizing matrix analysis (in particular, using the field of values and the differentiator of a matrix). In addition, we provide a useful variant of a well-known result due to Siebeck.

math.AG↗

arXiv2020

The Doubly Stochastic Single Eigenvalue Problem: A Computational Approach

The problem of determining $DS_n$, the complex numbers that occur as an eigenvalue of an $n$-by-$n$ doubly stochastic matrix, has been a target of study for some time. The Perfect-Mirsky region, $PM_n$, is contained in $DS_n$, and is known to be exactly $DS_n$ for $n \leq 4$, but strictly contained within $DS_n$ for $n = 5$. Here, we present a Boundary Conjecture that asserts that the boundary of $DS_n$ is achieved by eigenvalues of convex combinations of pairs of (or single) permutation matrices. We present a method to efficiently compute a portion of $DS_n$, and obtain computational results that support the Boundary Conjecture. We also give evidence that $DS_n$ is equal to $PM_n$ for certain $n > 5$.

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arXiv2020

The Proportion of Trees that are Linear

We study several enumeration problems connected to linear trees, a broad class which includes stars, paths, generalized stars, and caterpillars. We provide generating functions for counting the number of linear trees on $n$ vertices, characterize the asymptotic growth rate of the number of nonisomorphic linear trees, and show that the distribution of $k$-linear trees on $n$ vertices follows a central limit theorem.

math.CO↗

arXiv2019

Spectra of Convex Hulls of Matrix Groups

The still-unsolved problem of determining the set of eigenvalues realized by $n$-by-$n$ doubly stochastic matrices, those matrices with row sums and column sums equal to $1$, has attracted much attention in the last century. This problem is somewhat algebraic in nature, due to a result of Birkhoff demonstrating that the set of doubly stochastic matrices is the convex hull of the permutation matrices. Here we are interested in a general matrix group $G \subseteq GL_n(\mathbb{C})$ and the hull spectrum $\text{HS}(G)$ of eigenvalues realized by convex combinations of elements of $G$. We show that hull spectra of matrix groups share many nice properties. Moreover, we give bounds on the hull spectra of matrix groups, determine $\text{HS}(G)$ exactly for important classes of matrix groups, and study the hull spectra of representations of abstract groups.

math.SP↗

arXiv2019

Eigenvalue Paths Arising From Matrix Paths

It is known (see e.g. [2], [4], [5], [6]) that continuous variations in the entries of a complex square matrix induce continuous variations in its eigenvalues. If such a variation arises from one real parameter $α\in [0, 1]$, then the eigenvalues follow continuous paths in the complex plane as $α$ shifts from $0$ to $1$. The intent here is to study the nature of these eigenpaths, including their behavior under small perturbations of the matrix variations, as well as the resulting eigenpairings of the matrices that occur at $α = 0$ and $α = 1$. We also give analogs of our results in the setting of monic polynomials.

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arXiv2017

The NIEP

The nonnegative inverse eigenvalue problem (NIEP) asks which lists of $n$ complex numbers (counting multiplicity) occur as the eigenvalues of some $n$-by-$n$ entry-wise nonnegative matrix. The NIEP has a long history and is a known hard (perhaps the hardest in matrix analysis?) and sought after problem. Thus, there are many subproblems and relevant results in a variety of directions. We survey most work on the problem and its several variants, with an emphasis on recent results, and include 130 references. The survey is divided into: a) the single eigenvalue problems; b) necessary conditions; c) low dimensional results; d) sufficient conditions; e) appending 0's to achieve realizability; f) the graph NIEP's; g) Perron similarities; and h) the relevance of Jordan structure.

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arXiv2016

A matricial view of the Karpelevič Theorem

The question of the exact region in the complex plane of the possible single eigenvalues of all $n$-by-$n$ stochastic matrices was raised by Kolmogorov in 1937 and settled by Karpelevič in 1951 after a partial result by Dmitriev and Dynkin in 1946. The Karpelevič result is unwieldy, but a simplification was given by Đoković in 1990 and Ito in 1997. The Karpelevič region is determined by a set of boundary arcs each connecting consecutive roots of unity of order less than $n$. It is shown here that each of these arcs is realized by a single, somewhat simple, parametrized stochastic matrix. Other observations are made about the nature of the arcs and several further questions are raised. The doubly stochastic analog of the Karpelevič region remains open, but a conjecture about it is amplified.

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arXiv2015

Perron Spectratopes and the Real Nonnegative Inverse Eigenvalue Problem

Call an $n$-by-$n$ invertible matrix $S$ a \emph{Perron similarity} if there is a real non-scalar diagonal matrix $D$ such that $S D S^{-1}$ is entrywise nonnegative. We give two characterizations of Perron similarities and study the polyhedra $\mathcal{C}(S) := \{ x \in \mathbb{R}^n: S D_x S^{-1} \geq 0,~D_x := \text{diag}(x) \}$ and $\mathcal{P})(S) := \{x \in \mathcal{C}(S) : x_1 = 1 \}$, which we call the \emph{Perron spectracone} and \emph{Perron spectratope}, respectively. The set of all normalized real spectra of diagonalizable nonnegative matrices may be covered by Perron spectratopes, so that enumerating them is of interest. The Perron spectracone and spectratope of Hadamard matrices are of particular interest and tend to have large volume. For the canonical Hadamard matrix (as well as other matrices), the Perron spectratope coincides with the convex hull of its rows. In addition, we provide a constructive version of a result due to Fiedler (\cite[Theorem 2.4]{f1974}) for Hadamard orders, and a constructive version of \cite[Theorem 5.1]{bh1991} for Sule\uımanova spectra.

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arXiv2013

Equal Entries in Totally Positive Matrices

We show that the maximal number of equal entries in a totally positive (resp. totally nonsingular) $n\textrm{-by-}n$ matrix is $Θ(n^{4/3})$ (resp. $Θ(n^{3/2}$)). Relationships with point-line incidences in the plane, Bruhat order of permutations, and $TP$ completability are also presented. We also examine the number and positionings of equal $2\textrm{-by-}2$ minors in a $2\textrm{-by-}n$ $TP$ matrix, and give a relationship between the location of equal $2\textrm{-by-}2$ minors and outerplanar graphs.

math.CO↗

arXiv2013

Continuity properties of vectors realizing points in the classical field of values

For an $n$-by-$n$ matrix $A$, let $f_A$ be its "field of values generating function" defined as $f_A\colon x\mapsto x^*Ax$. We consider two natural versions of the continuity, which we call strong and weak, of $f_A^{-1}$ (which is of course multi-valued) on the field of values $F(A)$. The strong continuity holds, in particular, on the interior of $F(A)$, and at such points $z \in \partial F(A)$ which are either corner points, belong to the relative interior of flat portions of $\partial F(A)$, or whose preimage under $f_A$ is contained in a one-dimensional set. Consequently, $f_A^{-1}$ is continuous in this sense on the whole $F(A)$ for all normal, 2-by-2, and unitarily irreducible 3-by-3 matrices. Nevertheless, we show by example that the strong continuity of $f_A^{-1}$ fails at certain points of $\partial F(A)$ for some (unitarily reducible) 3-by-3 and (unitarily irreducible) 4-by-4 matrices. The weak continuity, in its turn, fails for some unitarily reducible 4-by-4 and untiarily irreducible 6-by-6 matrices.

math.FA↗

arXiv2013

Solution Theory for Systems of Bilinear Equations

Bilinear systems of equations are defined, motivated and analyzed for solvability. Elementary structure is mentioned and it is shown that all solutions may be obtained as rank one completions of a linear matrix polynomial derived from elementary operations. This idea is used to identify bilinear systems that are solvable for all right hand sides and to understand solvability when the number of equations is large or small.

math.RA↗

arXiv2012

Nonpositive Eigenvalues of the Adjacency Matrix and Lower Bounds for Laplacian Eigenvalues

Let $NPO(k)$ be the smallest number $n$ such that the adjacency matrix of any undirected graph with $n$ vertices or more has at least $k$ nonpositive eigenvalues. We show that $NPO(k)$ is well-defined and prove that the values of $NPO(k)$ for $k=1,2,3,4,5$ are $1,3,6,10,16$ respectively. In addition, we prove that for all $k \geq 5$, $R(k,k+1) \ge NPO(k) > T_k$, in which $R(k,k+1)$ is the Ramsey number for $k$ and $k+1$, and $T_k$ is the $k^{th}$ triangular number. This implies new lower bounds for eigenvalues of Laplacian matrices: the $k$-th largest eigenvalue is bounded from below by the $NPO(k)$-th largest degree, which generalizes some prior results.

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