We generalize Löwner's method for proving that matrix monotone functions are operator monotone. The relation $x\leq y$ on bounded operators is our model for a definition of $C^{*}$-relations being residually finite dimensional. Our main result is a meta-theorem about theorems involving relations on bounded operators. If we can show there are residually finite dimensional relations involved and verify a technical condition, then such a theorem will follow from its restriction to matrices. Applications are shown regarding norms of exponentials, the norms of commutators, and "positive" noncommutative $*$-polynomials.

In this paper we give the form of every multiplicative Hausdorff prime matrix, thus answering a long-standing open question.

Let $G$ be an arbitrary finite abelian group. We describe all possible $G$-gradings on upper block triangular matrix algebras over an algebraically closed field of characteristic zero.

A classical question for a Toeplitz matrix with given symbol is how to compute asymptotics for the determinants of its reductions to finite rank. One can also consider how those asymptotics are affected when shifting an initial set of rows and columns (or, equivalently, asymptotics of their minors). Bump and Diaconis obtained a formula for such shifts involving Laguerre polynomials and sums over symmetric groups. They also showed how the Heine identity extends for such minors, which makes this question relevant to Random Matrix Theory. Independently, Tracy and Widom used the Wiener-Hopf factorization to express those shifts in terms of products of infinite matrices. We show directly why those two expressions are equal and uncover some structure in both formulas that was unknown to their authors. We introduce a mysterious differential operator on symmetric functions that is very similar to vertex operators. We show that the Bump-Diaconis-Tracy-Widom identity is a differentiated version of the classical Jacobi-Trudi identity.

We find a lower bound on the absolute value of the discriminant of the minimal polynomial of an integral symmetric matrix and apply this result to find a lower bound on Mahler's measure of related polynomials and to disprove a conjecture of D. Estes and R. Guralnick.

In this article we will show that there are infinitely many symmetric, integral $3 \times 3$ matrices, with zeros on the diagonal, whose eigenvalues are all integral. We will do this by proving that the rational points on a certain non-Kummer, singular K3 surface are dense. We will also compute the entire N\'eron--Severi group of this surface and find all low degree curves on it.

It is proved that every adjacency preserving continuous map on the vector space of real matrices of fixed size, is either a bijective affine tranformation of the form $ A \mapsto PAQ+R$, possibly followed by the transposition if the matrices are of square size, or its range is contained in a linear subspace consisting of matrices of rank at most one translated by some matrix $R$. The result extends previously known theorems where the map was assumed to be also injective.

Let $c = (c_1, \dots, c_n)$ be such that $c_1 \ge \cdots \ge c_n$. The $c$-numerical range of an $n \times n$ matrix $A$ is defined by $$ W_c(A) = \Bigl\{ \sum_{j=1}^n c_j (Ax_j,x_j) : \{x_1, \dots, x_n\} \text{ an orthonormal basis for } \IC^n \Bigr\}, $$ and the $c$-numerical radius of $A$ is defined by $r_c (A) = \max \{|z| : z \in W_c (A)\}$. We determine the structure of those linear operators $\phi$ on algebras of block triangular matrices, satisfying $$ W_c \bigl( \phi(A) \bigr) = W_c (A) \text{ for all } A \quad \text{or} \quad r_c \bigl( \phi(A) \bigr) = r_c (A) \text{ for all } A. $$

Suppose $m$ and $n$ are integers such that $1 \le m \le n$. For a subgroup $H$ of the symmetric group $S_m$ of degree $m$, consider the {\it generalized matrix function} on $m\times m$ matrices $B = (b_{ij})$ defined by $d^H(B) = \sum_{\sigma \in H} \prod_{j=1}^m b_{j\sigma(j)}$ and the {\it generalized numerical range} of an $n\times n$ complex matrix $A$ associated with $d^H$ defined by $$ \wmp(A) = \{d^H (X^*AX): X \text{ is } n \times m \text{ such that } X^*X = I_m\}. $$ It is known that $\wmp(A)$ is convex if $m = 1$ or if $m = n = 2$. We show that there exist normal matrices $A$ for which $\wmp(A)$ is not convex if $3 \le m \le n$. Moreover, for $m = 2 < n$, we prove that a normal matrix $A $ with eigenvalues lying on a straight line has convex $\wmp(A)$ if and only if $\nu A$ is Hermitian for some nonzero $\nu \in \IC$. These results extend those of Hu, Hurley and Tam, who studied the special case when $2 \le m \le 3 \le n$ and $H = S_m$.

The two theorems proved yield simple yet reasonably general conditions for triangular matrices to be bounded operators on $l_p$. The theorems are applied to N\"orlund and weighted mean matrices.