The \(J\)-numerical range of a \(J\)-Hermitian matrix and related inequalities (Q924371)

For positive integers \(r\) and \(s\), let \(J=I_r \oplus (-I_s)\), where \(I_k\) means the \(k\)-by-\(k\) identity matrix. Consider \(\mathbb C^{r+s}\) endowed with the indefinite inner product \([\xi, \eta]=\langle J \xi, \eta\rangle\). A vector \(\xi\) is neutral if \([\xi,\xi]=0\). Denote by \(U(r,s)\) the group of invertible \(n\)-by-\(n\) complex matrices \(U\) such that \(UJU^*=J\), where \(n=r+s\). For \(n\)-by-\(n\) complex matrices \(A\) and \(C\) the \(J\)-tracial numerical range is defined by \(W_{C}^{J}(A)=\{ \text{tr}(CUAU^{-1})\); \(U\in U(r,s)\}\). The authors discuss first the questions: When is \(W_{C}^{J}(A)\) the whole real line? When is \(W_{C}^{J}(A)\) a half-line? and then characterize \(W_{C}^{J}(A)\) for a \(J\)-Hermitian nilpotent matrix \(A\). Corollaries of the main results generalize indefinite versions of Ky Fan's and Schur's inequalities obtained by \textit{N. Bebiano}, \textit{H. Nakazato}, \textit{J. da Providência}, \textit{R. Lemos} and \textit{G. Soares} [Linear Algebra Appl. 407, 125--139 (2005; Zbl 1091.15024)].