Year: 2019
Type: preprint
Abstract: The nonzero eigenvalues of $AB$ are equal to those of $BA$: an identity that holds as long as the products are square, even when $A,B$ are rectangular. This fact naturally suggests an efficient algorithm for computing eigenvalues and eigenvectors of a low-rank matrix $X= AB$ with $A,B^T\in\mathbb{C}^{N\times r}, N\gg r$: form the small $r\times r$ matrix $BA$ and find its eigenvalues and eigenvectors. For nonzero eigenvalues, the eigenvectors are related by $ ABv = λv \Leftrightarrow BAw = λw $ with $w=Bv$, and the same holds for Jordan vectors. For zero eigenvalues, the Jordan blocks can change sizes between $AB$ and $BA$, and we characterize this behavior.
Source: arXiv (Cornell University)
Author: Nakatsukasa, Yuji
Language: English
Topic: Matrix Theory and Algorithms
Subfield: Computational Theory and Mathematics
Field: Computer Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2947637420