On the continuity of the \(m\)th root of a continuous nonnegative definite matrix-valued function (Q1359553)

A nonnegative definite matrix-valued function \(A(x)\) defined on an open subset of \(\mathbb{R}^N\) has a unique nonnegative definite \(m\)th root \(A(x)^{1/m}\) for each integer \(m\geq 2\). The authors show that if \(A(x)\) is continuous then so is \(A(x)^{1/m}\). Also, generalizing a result of \textit{M. I. Freidlin} [Teor. Veroyatn. Primen. 13, 375-378 (1968; Zbl 0164.46701)] for \(m=2\), they show that if the entries of \(A(x)\) satisfy the Hölder condition \(C^\alpha\) for an \(\alpha\in (0,2]\), then those of \(A(x)^{1/m}\) satisfy \(C^{\alpha/m}\). (For \(\alpha\in (1,2]\), \(C^\alpha\) is the condition that the first partial derivatives are continuous and satisfy \(C^{\alpha-1}\)).