Optimal unit triangular factorization of symplectic matrices (Q2154303)

The authors show that any symplectic matrix can be factored into 5 or fewer unit triangular symplectic matrices and that 5 is the optimal number. They also show the corresponding improved conclusions for structured subsets of symplectic matrices. This factorization provides an unconstrained optimization method on the \(2d\)-by-\(2d\) real symplectic group (a \(2d^2 + d\)-dimensional Lie group) with \(2d^2 + 3d\) parameters.