On the transitive matrices over distributive lattices (Q1779260)

Let \(L\) be a distributive lattice with least and greatest elements \(0\), \(1\) respectively. Then the set \(M_n(L)\) of \(n\times n\) matrices over \(L\) is a semiring that inherits a partial order from \(L\). A matrix \(A\in M_n(L)\) is transitive if \(A^2\leq A\). The author considers the convergence of the powers of such a matrix; it is shown that \(A\) converges to some \(A^{k(A)}\), and an estimate of \(k(A)\) is given. These results extend to the convergence of the powers of the transitive closure of a matrix. A canonical form of \(A\) is a matrix \(F=PAP^T\) where \(P\) is a permutation matrix and \(f_{ij}\nleqslant f_{ji}\) for \(i> j\). It is shown that, for \(n\geq 4\), a canonical form exists if and only if \(L\) is linear. For \(n= 3\), a canonical form exists if \(L\) has width \(2\), and an example is given (the cube) of a lattice of width \(3\) having a matrix with no canonical form.