Diagonalization in Jordan pairs (Q1178060)

Let \(V\) be a nondegenerate Jordan pair with dcc on principal inner ideals. An element of \(V\) is called diagonalizable if it lies in the span of Peirce 2-spaces of orthogonal division idempotents. The defect of \(V\) is defined as the set of all \(x\) in \(V\) such that \(Q_ yx=0\) for all \(y\) in \(V\) that generate minimal nontrivial inner ideals. When \(V\) is simple, the author proves that the nonzero elements of the defect of \(V\) are exactly the elements of \(V\) that are not diagonalizable. The defect is an outer ideal for any nondegenerate \(V\) with dcc on principal inner ideals, the defet of the defect of \(V\) is zero, and the defect of \(V\) is zero if \(2V=V\). These results are used to study the rank function of a nondegenerate Jordan pair \(V\). The rank function assigns to each element \(x\) of \(V\) the sup of the lengths of the chains of principal inner ideals in the inner ideal generated by \(x\). The author proves that the rank function satisfies the triangle inequality and does not increase under structural transformations. It follows that an element of finite rank \(r\) is diagonalizable if and only if it is the sum of \(r\) elements of rank one.