The centralizer of an endomorphism over an arbitrary field (Q2174522)

The aim of this work is the determination of the centralizer of an endomorphism of a finite-dimensional vector space, that is, of a square matrix over an arbitrary field, together with its dimension. The centralizer of a square matrix \(A\) over a field is by definition a subalgebra of all matrices commuting with \(A\). Therefore, the centralizer of \(A\) is a good associated structure, an important invariant of the matrix \(A\). However, the precise description of the centralizer of a matrix \(A\) over an arbitrary field is, in general, not a simple task. In this article, the authors fulfill the computation of the centralizer of a matrix using its different canonical forms, like companion matrices, generalized Jordan forms and also generalized Weyr forms in certain cases. Namely, the particular cases when the minimal polynomial is either separable, for example over a perfect field, or a power of an irreducible polynomial, are discussed in the last two sections with applications.