Bounds on the spectrum of nonsingular triangular \((0,1)\)-matrices (Q2221822)

Let \(K_n\) denote the set of all invertible \(n\times n\) lower triangular \((0,1)\)-matrices, and let \(\lambda_n(\cdot)\) and \(\lambda_1(\cdot)\) be the smallest and, respectively, largest eigenvalue of a given \(n\times n\) matrix with real eigenvalues. The numbers \[ c_n=\min\,\{\lambda_n(XX^T): X\in K_n\}\quad\mathrm{and}\quad C_n=\max\,\{\lambda_1(XX^T): X\in K_n\} \] are useful in studying extremal eigenvalues of certain GCD (greatest common divisor) and LCM (least common multiple) matrices and their generalizations. \textit{S. Hong} and \textit{R. Loewy} [Glasgow Math. J. 46, 551--569 (2004; Zbl 1083.11021)] introcuced \(c_n\). \textit{P. Ilmonen} et al. [Linear Algebra Appl. 429, 859--874 (2008; Zbl 1143.15016)] introduced \(C_n\). Furthermore, \textit{M. Mattila} [Linear Algebra Appl. 466, 1--20 (2015; Zbl 1395.15028)] found a lower bound for \(c_n\), and the reviewer (Appendix of [\textit{E. Altınışık} et al., Linear Algebra Appl. 493, 1--13 (2016; Zbl 1334.15079)]) improved it. The present author gives the following bound and demonstrates by numerical experiments that it improves significantly the aforementioned bounds. If \(n\) is odd, then \[ c_n\ge\big(\tfrac{1}{25}\phi^{-4n}+\tfrac{2}{25}\phi^{-2n}-\tfrac{2}{5\sqrt{5}}n\phi^{-2n} -\tfrac{23}{25}+n+\tfrac{2}{25}\phi^{2n}+\tfrac{2}{5\sqrt{5}}n\phi^{2n}+ \tfrac{1}{25}\phi^{4n}\big)^{-\frac{1}{2}}, \] where \(\phi\) denotes the golden ratio. If \(n\) is even, then the coefficient of the second and sixth term is \(\frac{4}{25}\), and the fourth term is \(-\frac{2}{5}\). He also conjectures that asymptotically \(c_n\sim 5\phi^{-2n}\). Note that later on \textit{R. Loewy} [Linear Algebra Appl. 608, 203--213 (2021; Zbl 1476.15017)] proved this. Ilmonen et al. [loc. cit.] found an upper bound for \(C_n\). The present author proves the explicit formula \[ C_n=\frac{1}{4}\csc^2\left(\frac{\pi}{4n+2}\right)=\frac{(2n+1)^2}{\pi^2}+\frac{1}{12}+O\big(\frac{1}{n^2}\big). \]