I am interested in the distance between two conjugacy classes in a group like $SO(n)$. However let's consider $U(n)$ for simplicity. My conjecture is that the Hausdorff distance between the conjugacy classes of $\Lambda_1$ and $\Lambda_2$, both of which are diagonal matrices, is given by the distance of the eigenvalues $(\lambda_1, \ldots, \lambda_n)$ and $(\lambda^{(2)}_1, \ldots, \lambda^{(2)}_n)$ as elements in the homogeneous space $\mathbb{T}^n / S_n$, where the action of the symmetric group $S_n$ on $\mathbb{T}^n$ is by permutation of the coordinates. Thus by translation invariance, the closest element to $X$ in the conjugacy class of $Y$ is any one that can be simultaneously diagonalized with $X$. However I don't know how to prove this plausible statement.
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Diagonalization gives a map $f\colon U(n)\to \mathbb{T}^n/S_n$. The map $f$ is also the projection to the orbit-space of the $U(n)$-action by conjugacy on $U(n)$. Hence $f$ is a submetry; i.e., $f(B_r(M))=B_r(f(M))$ for any matrix $M$. Hence your statement follows.
answered Jan 4, 2012 at 6:14
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$\begingroup$ Do people really say submetry? $\endgroup$ Commented Jan 4, 2012 at 6:16
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$\begingroup$ I guess your claim that $f$ is a submetry can be proved by Lipschitzness of the exponential map at every point on $U(n)$, which in turn can be proved by Baker-Hausdorff lemma. Is this how you think about it? $\endgroup$ Commented Jan 4, 2012 at 6:24
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3$\begingroup$ $DEITY, now Lipschitzness!... :P $\endgroup$ Commented Jan 4, 2012 at 6:26
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