Generators of matrix algebras in dimension 2 and 3 (Q957986)

The authors give computable necessary and sufficient conditions when a subset of \(2\)-by-\(2\), respectively, of \(3\)-by-\(3\) matrices over an algebraically closed field will generate the whole matrix algebra. In case of \(2\)-by-\(2\) matrices this condition reads as follows: The subset \(\{A_1,\dots,A_p\}\subseteq M_2\) generates the algebra \(M_2\) if and only if at least one of commutators \([A_i,A_j]\) is invertible or at least one of double commutators \([A_i,[A_j,A_k]]\) is invertible. It is also shown that if \([A_i,A_j]\) is invertible then \(\{I,A_i,A_j,A_iA_j\}\) span \(M_2\) as a vector space, and if all commutators are singular, but \([A_i,[A_j,A_k]]\) is invertible then \(M_2\) is spanned by \(\{I,A_i,A_j,A_k\}\). The conditions for \(3\)-by-\(3\) matrices are too involved to be given here.