Linear operators preserving idempotent matrices over fields (Q2639122)

If F is a field of characteristic \(p\neq 2\), then the semigroup \({\mathcal F}(F)\) of linear operators on the \(n\times n\) matrices over F that preserve idempotence is generated by a transposition and the similarity operators. An operator strongly preserves idempotence if it preserves both idempotence and nonidempotence. Over fields of characteristic \(p\neq 2\), this is equivalent to preserving idempotence. The structure of the semigroup \({\mathcal L}(F)\) of linear operators that strongly preserve idempotence is described in the case of characteristic two.