Decomposable numerical ranges of normal matrices (Q6963338)

Let \(A\in\mathbb{C}^{n\times n}\) and \(\mathcal{V}=\{V\in\mathbb{C}^{n\times 2}:V^*V=I_2\}\). The authors study the sets\N\begin{align*}\N\Pi_2(A)&=\Big\{\prod_{i=1}^2(V^*AV)_{ii}:V\in\mathcal{V}\}, \\\ND_2(A)&=\{\det{(V^*AV)}:V\in\mathcal{V}\}, \\\NP_2(A)&=\{\mathrm{per}\,(V^*AV):V\in\mathcal{V}\},\N\end{align*}\Nwhen \(A\) is essentially Hermitian (i.e., normal with all eigenvalues collinear in \(\mathbb{C}\)). In particular, these sets are star-shaped. They also show that if \(n=3\) and \(A\) is normal, then \(\Pi_2(A)\) and \(P_2(A)\) are star-shaped. This was conjectured by \textit{H. Nakazato} et al. [Linear Algebra Appl. 429, 698--715 (2008; Zbl 1143.15030)].