Jordan canonical forms of matrices over quaternion field (Q1367359)

In quantum mechanics and also in the treatment of multibody problems it is advantageous to have a linear algebra of matrices with quaternionic entries. The non-commutativity requires new techniques for the consideration of similarity theorems of quaternionic matrices. The authors use here the so-called double determinant theory which was essentially developed by the first author. The following result is obtained: Let \(A\) be a square matrix of order \(n\) with quaternionic entries. Then there exists an invertible matrix \(T\) of the same type such that \[ T^{-1}AT=\bigoplus_{\lambda_k\in\text{spec}(A)} J(l_k)(\lambda_k),\qquad \sum^s_{k=1}l_k=n, \] where \(J_{l_{k_1}}(\lambda_k)\oplus J_{l_{k_2}}(\lambda_k)\oplus\cdots\oplus J_{l_{k_r}}(\lambda_k)=:J(l_k)(\lambda_k)\) and \[ J_{l_{k_i}}(\lambda)=\begin{pmatrix} \lambda & 1 & 0 \\ & \ddots & 1 \\ 0 & & \lambda\end{pmatrix}_{l_{k_i}\times l_{k_i}}. \] The matrix \(T\) can be described effectively. This paper is very interesting and opens new possibilities in the application of quaternions.