On inverses of GCD matrices associated with multiplicative functions and a proof of the Hong-Loewy conjecture (Q999809)

Let \(\varepsilon>1\) and let \(\{x_i\}_{i=1}^\infty\) be an arbitrary strictly increasing infinite sequence of positive integers. In 2004, \textit{S. Hong} and \textit{R. Loewy} [Glasg. Math. J. 46, No. 3, 551--569 (2004; Zbl 1083.11021)] conjectured that \(\lim_{n\rightarrow\infty}\lambda_n^{(1)}>0,\) where \(\lambda_n^{(1)}\) is the least eigenvalue of the \(n\times n\) power GCD matrix \(((x_i,x_j)^\varepsilon)\). The aim of this interesting and technical paper is to prove this conjecture, showing that \(\lambda_n^{(1)}\) is greater than or equal to any matrix norm of the inverse matrix.