The \(\phi _S\) polar decomposition of matrices (Q609476)

Let \(M_{2n}\) be the set of all \(2n\)-square complex matrices and let \(S_{2n}\) be the set of all nonsingular symmetric or skew-symmetric matrices in \(M_{2n}\). For \(S \in S_{2n}\), define \(\phi_S : M_{2n}\to M_{2n}\) by \(\phi_S(A) = S^{-1}A^T S\), \(A\in M_{2n}\). It is known that every nonsingular \(A \in M_{2n}\) has a \(\phi_S\) polar decomposition, i.e., \(A = QR\), where \(Q\) is \(\phi_S\) orthogonal (that is, \(\phi_S(Q) = Q^{-1}\)) and \(R\) is \(\phi_S\) symmetric (that is, \(\phi_S(R) = R\)). If \(A\) has a \(\phi_S\) polar decomposition, then \(A\phi_S(A)\) is similar to \(\phi_S(A)A\) and has even rank. Set \(J=\begin{bmatrix} 0&I_n\\-I_n &0\end{bmatrix}\). A \(\phi_J\) orthogonal (symmetric, resp.) matrix is also called symplectic (skew-Hamiltonian, resp.) and the concepts can be found in Lie theory. The authors determine which matrices in \(M_{2n}\) have a \(\phi_J\) polar decomposition. They use the fact that each \(A\in M_{2n}\) of even rank is symplectically equivalent to some special product \(R(i,j)F(k,l)\), i.e., \(PAQ=R(i,j)F(k,l)\) (see the paper for the notations) where \(P\) and \(Q\) are symplectic, and thus narrow down the study to \(A\) with even rank and symplectically equivalent to \(R(i,2k-i)F(i,2k-i)\). Some necessary and sufficient conditions are given.