On Matrices Whose Distinct Eigenvalues Are Fully Captured by Quotient Matrices

TL;DR

This paper characterizes classes of matrices where the equitable quotient matrix captures all distinct eigenvalues of the original matrix, enabling spectrum analysis via smaller matrices.

Contribution

It provides necessary and sufficient conditions for the equitable quotient matrix to contain all distinct eigenvalues of the parent matrix, with applications.

Findings

Equitable quotient matrix can fully encode the spectrum of certain matrices.

Necessary and sufficient conditions are established for eigenvalue inclusion.

Applications demonstrate spectrum determination from quotient matrices.

Abstract

Let $M$ be the $n$-square matrix partitioned into $\ell^2$ blocks $b_{ij}$ according to some partition $P=\{C_{1},\dots,C_{\ell}\}$ of index set $\{1,\dots,n\}$. The quotient matrix $Q=(q_{ij})$ is a $k$-square matrix, with $\ell \leq k \leq n-1$, where $(ij)$-th entry is the average row sum (or column sum) of the corresponding block $b_{ij}$ in $M$. The partition $P$ is said to be \emph{equitable} if row sum of each block $b_{ij}$ is constant. In this case, the matrix $Q$ is referred to as the \emph{equitable quotient matrix} of $M$, and the spectrum of $Q$ is the subset of the spectrum of parent matrix $M$. We characterize some classes of matrices such that their equitable quotient matrix $Q$ contains all the distinct eigenvalues of $M$, thereby information can be obtained form the smallest matrix $Q$ without actually analyzing the parent matrix $M.$ We present necessary and the sufficient conditions for distinct eigenvalue of $M$ contained in the spectrum of of $Q$ in terms of eigenspaces. We end up article with some applications, where distinct eigenvalues of a parent matrix can be completely encoded by quotient matrix.