Diagonalizability of idempotent matrices over noncommutative rings (Q1965272)

Let \(R\) be an arbitrary ring. The authors prove the following two statements. Firstly, each idempotent matrix over \(R\) can be diagonalized iff each idempotent matrix over \(R\) has a characteristic vector. Secondly, an idempotent matrix over \(R\) can be diagonalized under a similarity transformation iff it is equivalent to a diagonal matrix. These results generalize \textit{A. L. Foster}'s theorem [Duke Math. J. 13, 247-258 (1946; Zbl 0060.06604); Theorem 10] and \textit{A. Steger}'s theorem [Pac. J. Math. 19, No. 3, 535-542 (1966; Zbl 0147.29103)] to arbitrary rings. Some new results about 0-similarity of idempotent matrices over \(R\) are also given.