Maps on spaces of symmetric matrices preserving idempotence (Q861024)

The authors classify maps on \(n\)-by--\(n\) symmetric matrices, over rather general fields, with the property that \(A-\lambda B\) is idempotent precisely when \(\Phi(A)-\lambda\Phi(B)\) is. No linearity nor surjectivity/injectivity of \(\Phi\) is part of the hypothesis. It is assumed that \(n\geq 4\), the underlying field has at least \(5\) elements, and that its characteristics differs from \(2\).