An Hermitian matrix equation over a finite field (Q2522117)

Let \(\mathrm{GF}(q)\) denote the finite field of order \(q = p^n\), where \(p\) is an odd prime. Let \(A\) and \(B\) denote Hermitian matrices over \(\mathrm{GF}(q^2)\) of order \(e\), rank \(m\) and order \(t\), rank \(r\), respectively. Let \(N(A, B, k)\) denote the number of \(e\times t\) matrices \(U\) of rank \(k\) over \(\mathrm{GF}(q^2)\) which satisfy the equation \[ U^* A U = B, \tag{*}\] where \(U^*\) is the conjugate transpose of \(U\). In a previous paper by the author and the reviewer [Duke Math. J. 22, 393--405 (1955; Zbl 0065.24805)] the total number of solutions of arbitrary rank when \(e = m\) was obtained. In the present paper an explicit formula is derived for \(N(A, B, k)\) in the general case.