Rank-permutable additive mappings (Q2369058)

Additive bijective transformations \(T\) which preserve the matrix relation \[ \text{rk}(A_1 \cdots A_k)= \text{rk}(A_{\sigma(1)} \cdots A_{\sigma(k)}) \] for a fixed integer \(k \geq 2\) and an arbitrary fixed permutation \(\sigma \in S_k\) are classified. The problem if an arbitrary fixed nonidentical permutation \(\sigma \in S_k\) and the above matrix relation are sufficient to characterize the additive bijective transformation \(T\) on the matrix algebra \(M_n({\mathbb F})\) over a field \(\mathbb F\) of characteristic zero is completely solved. All bijective additive transformations fulfilling the mentioned relation are characterized. The used technique allows to remove the assumption that a ground field is algebraically closed. The corresponding problem for additive non-bijective transformations that strongly preserve this relation is also considered and a characterization of almost surjective additive strong preservers is obtained. Some illustrative examples of almost surjective additive transformations are discussed.