Linear and Lipschitz similarity (Q2644728)

Two \(n\times n\) real orthogonal matrices A and B (considered as maps \({\mathbb{R}}^ n\to {\mathbb{R}}^ n)\) are called topologically similar if there exists a homeomorphism \(\phi\) : \({\mathbb{R}}^ n\to {\mathbb{R}}^ n\) such that \(\phi A=B\phi\). It is known that in general topologically similar matrices need not be linearly similar, i.e. there need not exist a linear map \(\psi\) such that \(\psi A=B\psi\). (The problem whether topological similarity of real orthogonal matrices implies linear similarity was known as De Rham conjecture, before it was settled in the negative.) If the homeomorphism \(\phi\) : \({\mathbb{R}}^ n\to {\mathbb{R}}^ n\) is Lipschitz, we define \(Lip(\phi)=\sup_{x\neq y}\| \phi (x)-\phi (y)\| /\| x-y\|.\) The following result is proved in the paper: Given \(n\times n\) real orthogonal matrices A and B, there exists \(\epsilon\in [0,1]\) depending on n and on those eigenvalues of A and B which are roots of 1 such that if \(\phi A=B\phi\) where \(\phi\) and \(\phi^{-1}\) are Lipschitz homeomorphisms satisfying \(1\leq Lip(\phi)Lip(\phi^{-1})\leq 1+\epsilon,\) then A and B are linearly similar.