Criteria for unitary congruence of complex \(2 \times 2\) matrices (Q650275)

Matrices \(A, B \in M_n({\mathbb C})\) are congruent if \(B=S^T A S\) for a nonsingular matrix \(S\) and matrices \(A,B\) are said to be unitarily congruent if \(B=U^T A U\), where \(U\) is a unitary matrix. So far there is no general criterion for unitary congruence of matrices. In this paper different types of canonical forms of complex \(2 \times 2\) matrices (e.g., normal or nonnormal matrix \(A\) with complex eigenvalues, with single or multiple positive or nonnegative eigenvalues and other types) are described. This description is based on the different types of the Schur form of the matrix \(A_R = A \overline{A}\) and enables the author to formulate simple criteria for unitary congruence at least for the minimal order.