Symmetric morphisms and the existence of Moore-Penrose inverses (Q915850)

The category of finite matrices over a ring, R, is an additive category with involution given by the transpose. It is therefore important to investigate the existence of Moore-Penrose inverses of a morphism, \(\phi\), in general additive categories C with involutions, *, as this can provide information on conditions dependent on R or on \(\phi\) that will guarantee their existence. Previously known sufficient conditions for the existence of the Moore-Penrose inverse often presuppose additional conditions on either \(\phi\) or C. The aim of the paper is to formulate and establish necessary and sufficient conditions for the Moore-Penrose inverse to exist. Amongst other criteria it is shown that \(\phi\) has a Moore-Penrose inverse with respect to * if and only if there is an annihilator \(\eta\) : \(N\to X\) of \(\phi\) such that \(\phi \phi^*+\eta^*\eta\) is invertible. Several applications are given retrieving recent results in this area.