Supernormal mappings. I: Orthogonally indecomposable modules and applications (Q1019630)

Let \(V\) be a finite-dimensional vector space over a field \(K\) and \(f\) a \((\varepsilon,\bar{}\;)\)-Hermitian sesquilinear form (where \(\bar{}\;\) is an involutory automorphism of \(K\) and \(\varepsilon\in K\) with \(\varepsilon\bar\varepsilon= 1\)). A linear endomorphism \(\pi\) of \(V\) is called supernormal if \(s(\pi)= \pi^*\) for some polynomial \(s\) over the field, where \(\pi^*\) is the adjoint of \(\pi\). Examples of supernormal mappings are unitary or symmetric or anti-symmetric mappings. For each of these, orthogonal decompositions into orthogonally indecomposable \(\pi\)-modules have been studied. In this paper the authors study orthogonal decompositions into \(\pi\)-modules for arbitrary supernormal \(\pi\) in a unified approach. In a second part the authors will discuss isometric similarity of supernormal mappings.