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In this paper, Friedland shows (in Lemma 3.4) that if $\phi$ is an isomorphism of coherent algebras, then there exists a unitary $U$ such that $$ \phi(M) = UMU^\dagger$$ for all $M$. I am wondering if the same is true of any trace-preserving isomorphism $\phi'$ between two self-adjoint unital matrix algebras as long as $\phi'(M^\dagger) = \phi'(M)^\dagger$.

Further comments:

A coherent algebra is a unital (contains identity) matrix algebra containing the all ones matrix which is additionally closed under conjugate transpose (i.e. is self-adjoint) and closed under Schur (entrywise) multiplication. An isomorphism of coherent algebras is an algebra isomorphism that also preserves conjugate transposition and Schur products.

In his proof, Friedland says that since a coherent algebra is semisimple and has a representation of the form given in equation (2.2) of the paper, it suffices to show that any such isomorphism $\phi$ preserves the trace map.

If I understand correctly, then the fact that a coherent algebra is semisimple and has a representation of the form given in (2.2) is a consequence of the fact that it is self-adjoint (closed under conjugate transpose).

Am I correct in my understanding? In other words, is it true that if $\phi$ is a trace-preserving isomorphism of unital self-adjoint matrix algebras such that $\phi(M^\dagger) = \phi(M)^\dagger$, then there is a unitary matrix $U$ such that $\phi(M) = UMU^\dagger$ for all $M$?

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  • $\begingroup$ Could you specify what you mean by a self-adjoint unital algebra? This may sound like a silly question but presumably you want to rule out examples of the following form: take ${\mathbb C}[t]/ \langle t^{N+1}\rangle$ and use conjugation of complex numbers as your involution $\endgroup$
    – Yemon Choi
    Mar 10, 2016 at 11:34
  • $\begingroup$ @YemonChoi Sorry, I am not very familiar with this area. I was referring only to subalgebras of the algebra of $n \times n$ complex matrices. By self-adjoint I mean closed under conjugate transpose and by unital I mean containing the identity matrix. $\endgroup$ Mar 10, 2016 at 11:42
  • $\begingroup$ OK, that makes sense, I just wanted to clarify. $\endgroup$
    – Yemon Choi
    Mar 10, 2016 at 12:01

1 Answer 1

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It is true that every unital self-adjoint algebra $A$ is semisimple. For $A$ contains no non-zero nilpotent right ideal (given any such ideal $I$ and any $M \in I$, we have trace($MM^{\ast}) =0$ since $MM^{\ast} \in I$ is nilpotent, and this forces $M = 0$). Thus $A$ is semisimple, and is a direct sum of full matrix algebras.

If $A$ and $B$ are both unital self adjoint subalgebras of a full matrix algebra $C$, and $\phi: A \to B$ is a trace preserving isomorphism which respects $\ast$, then $A$ and $B$ have the same size full matrix algebra summands with the same multiplicities, since the sizes of the full matrix algebra summands of $A$ are the traces of the primitive idempotents of $Z(A)$ and likewise for $B$.

The primitive idempotents of $Z(A)$ are self-adjoint, for if $e$ is one such, then so is $e^{\ast}$, and $ee^{\ast}$ has positive real trace so certainly $ee^{\ast} \neq 0$. Hence the (commuting) primitive idempotents of $Z(A)$ may be simultaneously diagonalized by a single unitary matrix $V$, and likewise for $B$ ( with another unitary matrix $W$).

Hence it suffices to consider the case (possibly replacing $A$ and $B$ by unitary conjugates) that $\phi(e) = e$ for each primitive idempotent $e$ of $Z(A)$. But then $eA = \phi(eA)$ for each such $A$, and $\phi$ induces an automorphism of the full matrix algebra $eA$ which respects the Hermitian adjoint. Any such automorphism is induced by conjugation of a unitary matrix in $eA$, so the desired conclusion holds.

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  • $\begingroup$ Is this a well-known result/is there something I can reference for the result? $\endgroup$ Jul 25, 2016 at 22:15
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    $\begingroup$ It is a combination of well-known results ( structure of semisimple algebras combined with an involution on the algebra) but I am not sure where is the best place for a single reference. $\endgroup$ Jul 26, 2016 at 6:07

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