Questions tagged [traces]
For questions involving the trace of a square matrix, i.e. the sum of the elements on the main diagonal.
134
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Geometric interpretation of trace
This afternoon I was speaking with some graduate students in the department and we came to the following quandary;
Is there a geometric interpretation of the trace of a matrix?
This question ...
63
votes
2
answers
8k
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Geometric interpretation of characteristic polynomial
The coefficients of lowest and next-highest degree of a linear operator's characteristic polynomial are its determinant and trace. These have well-known geometric interpretations. But what about its ...
35
votes
2
answers
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tr(ab) = tr(ba)?
It is well known that given two Hilbert-Schmidt operators $a$ and $b$ on a Hilbert space $H$, their product is trace class and $tr(ab)=tr(ba)$. A similar result holds for $a$ bounded and $b$ trace ...
30
votes
3
answers
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When is an integral transform trace class?
Given a measure space $(X, \mu)$ and a measurable integral kernel $k : X \times X \rightarrow \mathbb{C}$, the operator
$$ K f(\xi) =\int_{X} f(x) k(x,\xi) d \mu(x),$$
the operator $K$ is Hilbert ...
15
votes
1
answer
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trace(xy)=trace(yx) in full generality
It is well known that, for square matrix $x$ and $y$, we have $\operatorname{tr}(xy)=\operatorname{tr}(yx)$. Here of course the trace of a matrix is just the sum of the elements of the diagonal.
The ...
14
votes
5
answers
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Matrix trace & norm [closed]
For any nonnegative semidefinite matrix $A$ and any matrix $B$, we have
$$\mbox{tr} (AB) \le \mbox{tr} (A) \, \|B\|$$
where $\mbox{tr}(\cdot)$ is the trace and $\|\cdot\|$ is the operator norm. How ...
13
votes
1
answer
650
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Trace-class operator satisfies $\sum |\lambda_n|<\infty$?
Here's an "exercise" which I thought should be easy, but which I find myself unable to do.
Let $V$ be a Banach space.
Recall that an operator $f:V\to V$ is trace-class if it is in the image of the ...
12
votes
1
answer
533
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Categorical interpretation of disjoint cycle notation for tracing permutations
For a natural number $n\in\mathbb{N}$, let $\underline{n}$ denote the finite set $$\underline{n}:=\{1,2,\ldots,n\}.$$
A permutation $\sigma\in Aut(\underline{n})$ can be uniquely written (up to order) ...
12
votes
0
answers
443
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Are Sobolev trace spaces equal from both sides of the boundary?
Let $\Omega\subset\mathbb R^n$ be a bounded open set and $\Omega'$ the complement of its closure.
Assume $\partial\Omega=\partial\Omega'$.
Are the quotient spaces $W^{1,p}(\Omega)/W^{1,p}_0(\Omega)$ ...
11
votes
2
answers
772
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Trace of non-commutable matrices
Let $M_1$ and $M_2$ be two symmetric $d\times d$ matrices. What is the relationship between
$tr(M_1M_2M_1M_2)$ and $tr(M_1^2 M_2^2 )$?
P.S. I tried a few examples and found
$$
tr(M_1M_2M_1M_2) \le tr(...
11
votes
3
answers
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Boundedness of the derivative of the trace of an H^1 function
As a research preface, this question is linked to a problem of increasing magnetism in Ginzburg-Landau equations that I have distilled for the purpose of getting to the bottom of this technical matter....
11
votes
1
answer
421
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Best constant for a trace inequality
Having an open, simply connected set $\Omega \subset \Bbb{R}^N$ we may ask what is the best constant $C$ (if it exists) in the inequality
$$ \int_{\partial \Omega} u^2 \leq C\int_{\Omega} |\nabla u|^...
10
votes
5
answers
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Non-conjugate words with the same trace
Let n>=2, p a large prime, G = SL_n(Z/pZ).
If n=2, there are words that, while not conjugate in the free group, do have identical trace in G. For example, tr(g h^2 g^2 h)= tr(g^2 h^2 g h) for all g, ...
10
votes
2
answers
460
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Inequality for trace of a symmetric product?
Let $A$ be a real, positive-definite, symmetric operator on an $n$-dimensional space $V$. Write $\odot^k A$ for the action of $A$ on the symmetric power $\odot^k V$. Let $v_1,\dotsc,v_n$ be a basis ...
10
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3
answers
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Trace inequality for non-reversible Markov chain
Let $P \in \mathbb{R}^{d \times d}$ be the transition kernel for a Markov chain with stationary measure $\pi$ and define $P^\ast$ to be the time-reversed transition kernel defined by $P^\ast_{ij} := ...
9
votes
0
answers
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Can we extend c.p. normal maps on a finite von Neumann algebra $M$ to $L_0(M)_+$?
Suppose that $M$ is a von Neumann algebra with a finite, normal, faithful trace $\tau$. Let $T\colon M\to M$ be a completely positive, normal map.
Can $T$ be extended to a `positively linear map' ...
8
votes
1
answer
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Hecke algebra relation versus $\operatorname{SL}_2$ trace relation
The quadratic relation in the (type $A$) Hecke algebra is $(T-t)(T+t^{-1}) =0$, which can be rewritten as
$$
T-T^{-1} = t-t^{-1}$$
Suppose $A \in \operatorname{SL}_2(\mathbb{Q})$ with eigenvalues $a,...
8
votes
1
answer
433
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Ends as a "cotrace" operation on profunctors
As mentioned here, there is a trace operation on the monoidal category of profunctors given by taking coends: for any profunctor $F : A\times X \nrightarrow B \times X$, there is a profunctor $Tr^X(F) ...
8
votes
1
answer
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Efficiently compute the trace of a sparse matrix times the inverse of a sparse matrix?
How can I efficiently compute
$\mathrm{trace}(A(B^{-1}))$
where $A$ and $B$ are both sparse symmetric PSD $n \times n$ matrices, both with $O(n)$ non-zero entries? If it helps, the pattern of non-...
7
votes
2
answers
611
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If I multiply the coefficients of a trace-class operator with bounded complex numbers is it still trace class?
Suppose that $T \in TC(l^2( \mathbb{Z}))$ is trace class.
Consider its kernel $ T(i,j) = \langle e_i, T e_j \rangle $ where $ \{e_i\}_{i \in \mathbb{Z}}$ is an ONB for $l^2( \mathbb{Z})$. Now, ...
7
votes
1
answer
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Is there a converse to the Brauer–Nesbitt theorem?
$\DeclareMathOperator\Tr{Tr}$Say that we have an algebra $R$ over $\mathbb{C}$. If, for two finitely generated (edit: and semisimple) $R$-modules $M, N$ we know that $\Tr_M(r)=\Tr_N(r)$ for all $r\in ...
7
votes
2
answers
734
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An extension of the Golden-Thompson inequality
For three symmetric positive semidefinite matrices $A, B,C$, I am trying to figure out if the following inequality holds, at least in some cases:
$$ \operatorname{tr} \left( A e^{B+C} \right) \leq \...
7
votes
1
answer
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Every self-adjoint trace class operator on $L^2$ has integral kernel
I have asked this question on MSE but did not receive an answer. I thought I could try it here.
Let $T$ be a self-adjoint trace-class operator on $L^2(\mathbb{R})$. Is is true that it can be ...
6
votes
2
answers
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Trace of n-th root of unity in cyclotomic extension of p-adic rationals
Let $n\in\mathbb N$ and $p$ be any prime. Denote by $\mathbb Q_p$ the $p$-adic numbers. For a field extension $L/K$ denote by $Tr_{L/K}$ the corresponding trace function.
Let $\zeta_n$ be a primitve $...
6
votes
1
answer
414
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Completely bounded norm for unital maps with completely positive sections
Consider a completely bounded unital map $\Phi: \mathbf M_h(\mathbb C) \to \mathbf M_k(\mathbb C)$. Suppose that $\Phi$ has right-inverse $\Psi$ which is completely positive. Is the operator norm of $\...
6
votes
2
answers
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Inner products on super vector spaces
Let $V=V^0\oplus V^1$ be a super vector space (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_vector_space)
Is there a special definition of an inner product on $V$ other than just an inner product on the ...
6
votes
0
answers
127
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Hölder inequality inside trace
$\DeclareMathOperator\tr{tr}$Suppose we have positive semidefinite matrices $A_1, \dotsc, A_n$ and $B_1, \dotsc, B_n$ of the same dimension. Do we have a Hölder inequality for the trace of the ...
5
votes
2
answers
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Trace identity for $2 \times 2$ reflections [closed]
Let $A, B, C \in \mathrm{GL}(2,\mathbb{C})$ be reflections (i.e., their eigenvalues are $\pm 1$). Please show that
$$ \DeclareMathOperator\Tr{Tr}\{\Tr(AB)\}^2+\{\Tr(BC)\}^2 + \{\Tr(CA)\}^2 - \{\Tr(AB)\...
5
votes
1
answer
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Trace inequality under consideration of definiteness
Let $G \in \mathbb{R}^{3 \times 3}$ a symmetric, but indefinite matrix and $U \in \mathbb{R}^{3\times 3}$ a symmetric and positive definite matrix. I would like to prove the inequality
$$ \text{Tr} \...
5
votes
1
answer
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Trace over the zeros with real part 1/2 Only
If RH is not true, we have that Weil's explicit formula still holds:
$$ \sum_{\gamma} h(\gamma) = h(i/2)+h(-i/2)-2 \sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{ \Lambda(n)}{ \sqrt n}g(logn)+\frac{1}{2\pi} \int_{-\infty}...
5
votes
1
answer
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Image of the trace map of ring of integers
Let $L/\mathbb{Q}$ be a finite Galois extension, and let $\mathcal{O}_L$ be the ring of integers of $L$.
We have $tr_{L/\mathbb{Q}}(\mathcal{O}_L)=d\mathbb{Z}$ for some $d\geq 1.$
Fact. $d=1$ if ...
5
votes
1
answer
852
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traces of sobolev spaces under additional assumptions
Let $p\in [1,\infty]$, $\Omega$ an open bounded domain with (smooth, if necessary) boundary $\partial \Omega$.
Is there a subspace $X\subset L^p(\Omega)$ - a simply describable space, ideally a ...
5
votes
2
answers
715
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In what sense do the categorical trace and coend count fixed points?
According to the nlab, the categorical trace of a 1-endomorphism $F:C\to C$ in a 2-category is the set hom$(1_C, F)$ of global elements of $F$. If $F$ is a functor in the 2-category Cat, the ...
5
votes
1
answer
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What is the trace of the integral operator $(\mathcal{L}f)(x)=\int_0^\infty (x \wedge y)f(y) \, d \pi(y)$?
Let $\pi$ denote a probability measure on $[0,+\infty)$ and let us assume that
$$m:=\int_0^\infty x \, \mathrm{d} \, \pi(x)<+\infty.$$
Let us consider the integral operator $\mathcal{L}$ on $L_2(\...
5
votes
1
answer
125
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Trace spaces on convex polyhedra: compatibility conditions at edges
Let $\Omega$ be a convex polyhedron in $\mathbf{R}^3$ with boundary $\partial\Omega$ consisting of $N$ polygons $\{\Gamma_j\}_{j=1}^N$. It's well known that in general
$$ H^s(\partial \Omega) \neq \...
5
votes
0
answers
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Two Hattori-Stallings trace questions
$\DeclareMathOperator\THH{THH}\DeclareMathOperator\Perf{Perf}\DeclareMathOperator\map{map}\DeclareMathOperator\tr{tr}\DeclareMathOperator\HH{HH}\DeclareMathOperator\fib{fib}\DeclareMathOperator\id{id}\...
5
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0
answers
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Closed paths, closed trails and traces
Let $A$ be the adjacency matrix of a (non-oriented) graph $\Gamma$. Then $\textrm{Tr} A^k$ equals both the sum $\sum_i \lambda_i^k$ of $k$th powers of eigenvalues of $A$, on the one hand, and the ...
5
votes
0
answers
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A bounded extension operator
Let $\Omega\subset\mathbb{R}^n$ be a bounded domain with smooth boundary $\partial\Omega$. Consider the harmonic extension operator $E :L^2(\partial \Omega) \rightarrow H^{1/2}(\Omega)$ which assigns ...
5
votes
0
answers
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Traces in finite extensions of integrally closed domains
$\def\fp{\mathfrak{p}}\def\fq{\mathfrak{q}}$I'm looking for a reference for the following commutative algebra fact.
Let $A$ be an integrally closed integral domain, with field of fractions $K$. Let $...
5
votes
0
answers
871
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Trace Theorem for $p=\infty$
I am considering the Sobolev space $W^{1,\infty}(\Omega)$ on a bounded Lipschitz domain $\Omega \subseteq \mathbb{R}^2$. I am wondering whether the trace theorem holds in this case with constant one (...
4
votes
2
answers
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Reconstruct a matrix from its traces
In my research I came across the following problem. Let $A$ be a symmetric and $\Gamma$ be a diagonal $n\times n$ matrices. The eigenvalues of $A$ are known $\lambda_1,\ldots\lambda_n$. The traces $\...
4
votes
2
answers
218
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Bound on sum of $n$th super-diagonal entries in a $2n$ by $2n$ PSD matrix
Let $A,B,C\in\mathbb{R}^{n\times n}$ be such that
$\left(\begin{array}{} A & B \\ B^T & C \end{array}\right)\succeq 0$. I would like to prove that
$$\mathrm{trace}\,B \le \sum_{i=1}^n \sqrt{\...
4
votes
1
answer
259
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Which operators on the trace-class operators extend to operators on Hilbert-Schmidt operators?
Let $\mathcal{H}$ be a separable Hilbert space and let $TC( \mathcal{H})$, $HS(\mathcal{H})$ be the space of trace-class operators and Hilbert-Schmidt operators on $\mathcal{H}$. Recall that these ...
4
votes
1
answer
2k
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Derivative of trace of pseudo inverse
Given three matrices $A$ (broad), $B$ and $C$, I'd like to find the derivative of
\begin{align}
f = \textrm{tr} \{BA^+\} + \textrm{tr} \{B(A^+)^TCA^+B^T\}
\end{align}
with respect to $A$, where $A^+...
4
votes
1
answer
516
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Closed paths, traces and spectra
Let $\Gamma$ be a graph. Write $A$ for its adjacency matrix. It is trivial to show that $\mathrm{Tr} A^k$ equals the number of closed walks of length k, that is, the number of $k$-step walks that ...
4
votes
1
answer
196
views
Retractions for completely positive unital maps, with particularly nice norms
Consider a non-singular, completely positive, unital map $\Psi: \mathbf M_k(\mathbb C) \to \mathbf M_h(\mathbb C)$. This map will have one or more retractions. Does $\Psi$ admit a retraction $\Phi: \...
4
votes
1
answer
4k
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Numerical trace of inverse matrix from Cholesky
This question was somewhat answered here: Fast trace of inverse of a square matrix. However, I feel like there was no complete answer wrt the Cholesky case.
I have the matrix $\Sigma=LL^T$. Is there ...
4
votes
2
answers
299
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tracial triples
Say that a triple of real numbers $(a,b,c)$ is a realizable triple if there are matrices $A,B\in SL_2(\mathbb{R})$ such that $tr (A)=a$, $tr (B)=b$, and $tr (AB)=c$. Question: what is the shape of the ...
4
votes
2
answers
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Maximizing trace of $\mathrm V^T \mathrm A \mathrm V$ for $\mathrm A$ symmetric (alternate proof with min/max-theorem)
I'm trying to work out a proof for the following proposition:
Let $A \in \mathbb{R}^{n,n}$ a real, symmetric matrix with eigenvalues $\lambda_1 \ge \lambda_2 \ge \cdots \ge \lambda_n$, then
$$\max \...
4
votes
1
answer
193
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Does trace handle composition in a traced symmetric monoidal category?
Suppose that $(C,\otimes,I)$ is a traced symmetric monoidal category (TSMC) with symmetrizor $\sigma$ and trace $Tr$. Given two morphisms $f\colon A\to B$ and $g\colon B\to C$, I can tensor them to ...