Eigenvalue question, hermitian matrix

In summary, hermitian matrices can be diagonalized by a unitary matrix whose columns represent a complete set of its normalized eigenvectors.
  • #1
thedean515
11
0
I read from a book and claim that for any hermitian matrix can be diagonalized by a unitary matrix whose columns represent a complete set of its normalized eigenvectors. It then given an equation:
[tex]\mathbf{\left|A\right|=\left|U\right|\left|\Lambda\right|\left|U^{\dagger}\right|}=\lambda_{1}\lambda_{2}\ldots\lambda_{M} \qquad \qquad (1)[/tex]

Let [tex]\mathbf{A}[/tex] be a [tex]M\times M [/tex] hermitian matrix , and [tex]\lambda_{i}, \lambda_{2}, \ldots, \lambda_{M}[/tex] and [tex]\mathbf{u_{1},\, u_{2},\,\ldots\, u_{M}} [/tex]represent its eigenvalues and an orthonormal set of eigenvectors.

[tex]\mathbf{\Lambda=}diag\left[\lambda_{1},\lambda_{2},\ldots,\lambda_{M}\right][/tex]
and
[tex]\mathbf{U=[u_{1},u_{2},\ldots,u_{M}]}[/tex]
[tex]\mathbf{U^{\dagger}}[/tex] represent the complex conjugate transpose of U.

I failed to proof it in MATLAB.

I have

A =

1.5000 2.5000 3.5000 4.5000 5.5000
2.5000 1.5000 2.5000 3.5000 4.5000
3.5000 2.5000 1.5000 2.5000 3.5000
4.5000 3.5000 2.5000 1.5000 2.5000
5.5000 4.5000 3.5000 2.5000 1.5000

>> [U lamda] = eig(A)
U =

0.6015 -0.4703 -0.3717 0.1777 0.4973
0.3717 0.2490 0.6015 -0.5125 0.4187
-0.0000 0.6586 0.0000 0.6414 0.3936
-0.3717 0.2490 -0.6015 -0.5125 0.4187
-0.6015 -0.4703 0.3717 0.1777 0.4973


lamda =

-5.2361 0 0 0 0
0 -1.6080 0 0 0
0 0 -0.7639 0 0
0 0 0 -0.5558 0
0 0 0 0 15.6638

The middle of Equation (1) equal to

abs(U)*abs(lamda)*abs(U')

ans =

6.2463 4.8416 3.6267 4.8416 6.2463
4.8416 3.9914 3.0274 3.9914 4.8416
3.6267 3.0274 3.3521 3.0274 3.6267
4.8416 3.9914 3.0274 3.9914 4.8416
6.2463 4.8416 3.6267 4.8416 6.2463

it does not equal to the right handside of Equation 1:
prod(diag(lamda))

ans =

56.0000

I think I must made a stupid error somewhere but can't see it myself at the moment, someone can help me
 
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  • #2
I think you have "[tex]\mathbf{U}[/tex]" and "[tex]\mathbf{U^{\dagger}}[/tex]" reversed.

Try multiplying in the opposite order
 
  • #3
HallsofIvy said:
I think you have "[tex]\mathbf{U}[/tex]" and "[tex]\mathbf{U^{\dagger}}[/tex]" reversed.

Try multiplying in the opposite order

Thank you for your help.
I tried, but I still can't get |A| from abs(U')*abs(lamda)*abs(U), which I will called it A2.

A2- abs(A) =
ans =

6.3607 3.6121 1.6572 -1.8534 1.0880
3.6121 3.5874 1.4778 -1.1544 0.8109
1.6572 1.4778 2.1712 -0.4520 0.9084
-1.8534 -1.1544 -0.4520 0.0429 0.0043
1.0880 0.8109 0.9084 0.0043 4.1655

I didn't understand from the equation given is that:

|A| = [tex]\lamda_1 \lamda_2 \ldots \lamda_M[\tex]

If A is a M x M matrix how would it equal to a value as indicated by the RHS.
 
  • #4
Here '|A|' doesn't mean the absolute value. It is the determinant.
 
  • #5
that's right, thank you very much. I didn't thought about that. My question them become how to differentiate a absolute value or a determinant of a matrix?
 
  • #6
Well, if the quantity in the '| |' is a matrix, it means the determinant, as far as I've seen until now.
 
  • #7
Matlab has the command det(A) and it will return the determinant of the matrix A.

If you multiply, the right hand side determinants together you will get the determinant on the left hand side :)
 

FAQ: Eigenvalue question, hermitian matrix

What is an eigenvalue?

An eigenvalue is a scalar value that represents the scale factor of a linear transformation when it is applied to a vector. In other words, it is the value by which the vector is stretched or compressed by the transformation.

What is an eigenvector?

An eigenvector is a vector that remains in the same direction after being transformed by a linear transformation. It is associated with an eigenvalue and represents the direction in which the transformation has the greatest effect.

How is an eigenvalue calculated?

An eigenvalue can be calculated by finding the roots of the characteristic polynomial of a matrix. This polynomial is obtained by subtracting the eigenvalue from the main diagonal of the matrix and taking the determinant of the resulting matrix.

What is a Hermitian matrix?

A Hermitian matrix is a square matrix that is equal to its own conjugate transpose. In other words, the entries above the main diagonal are the complex conjugates of the entries below the main diagonal. Hermitian matrices have special properties, such as having real eigenvalues and orthogonal eigenvectors.

What is the significance of eigenvalues and eigenvectors in a Hermitian matrix?

In a Hermitian matrix, the eigenvalues represent the possible values of a physical quantity, while the eigenvectors represent the corresponding states of the system. This makes them useful in quantum mechanics and other areas of physics, where physical properties are represented by matrices and their eigenvalues and eigenvectors.

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