Linear spaces of real matrices of constant rank (Q1316175)

Consider the set \(M(m,n;k)\) consisting of all real \(m\times n\) matrices of rank \(k\). Denote the largest dimension of a linear subspace of \(M(m,n;k)\cup\{0\}\) by \(\ell(m,n;k)\). Equivalently, if \(m\geq n\), then \({\mathcal L}(m,n;k)\) is the largest integer \(r\) such that there exists a nonsingular bilinear mapping \(f:\mathbb{R}^ r\times\mathbb{R}^ n\to\mathbb{R}^ m\) such that \(f(x,y)=0\) only when \(x=0\) or \(y=0\). A famous result of \textit{J. F. Adams} [Ann. Math. 75, II. Ser., 603-632 (1962; Zbl 0112.381)] shows that \(\ell(n,n;n)=\rho(n)\) where \(\rho(n)=8a+2^ b\) if \(n=2^{4a+b}(2c+1)\) with \(0\leq b\leq 3\). In his 1966 Princeton dissertation, and the first author showed that \(\ell(n,n+1;n)=\max\{\rho(n),\rho(n+1)\}\) and \(\ell(n,n+2;n)=\max\{3,\rho(n),\rho(n+1),\rho(n+2)\}\) [see also \textit{M. A. Berger} and \textit{S. Friedland}, Compos. Math. 59, 113-146 (1986; Zbl 0599.10014)], and the first author and \textit{P. Y. H. Yiu}, Contemp. Math. 58, 51-56 (1987; Zbl 0659.55006)]. In the present paper the authors prove that, except for small cases \((n=3,6\) or 7): \(\ell(n,n;n-1)=\max\{\rho(n),\rho(n\pm 1)\}\); \(\ell(n,n- 1;n-2)=\max\{\rho(n),\rho(n\pm 1),\rho(n-2)\}\); and \(\ell(n,n;n- 2)=\max\{\rho(n),\rho(n\pm 1),\rho(n\pm 2)\}\).