Unitary equivalence to a complex symmetric matrix: an algorithm

We present a necessary and sufficient condition for a 3 by 3 matrix to be unitarily equivalent to a symmetric matrix with complex entries, and an algorithm whereby an arbitrary 3 by 3 matrix can be tested. This test generalizes to a necessary and sufficient condition that applies to almost every n by n matrix. The test is constructive in that it explicitly exhibits the unitary equivalence to a complex symmetric matrix.Comment: 10 page

Representation theory in chiral conformal field theory: from fields to observables

This article develops new techniques for understanding the relationship between the three different mathematical formulations of two-dimensional chiral conformal field theory: conformal nets (axiomatizing local observables), vertex operator algebras (axiomatizing fields), and Segal CFTs. It builds upon previous work which introduced a geometric interpolation procedure for constructing conformal nets from VOAs via Segal CFT, simultaneously relating all three frameworks. In this article, we extend this construction to study the relationship between the representation theory of conformal nets and the representation theory of vertex operator algebras. We define a correspondence between representations in the two contexts, and show how to construct representations of conformal nets from VOAs. We also show that this correspondence is rich enough to relate the respective 'fusion product' theories for conformal nets and VOAs, by constructing local intertwiners (in the sense of conformal nets) from intertwining operators (in the sense of VOAs). We use these techniques to show that all WZW conformal nets can be constructed using our geometric interpolation procedure.Comment: 79 pages. v2: minor revisions and update

Categorified trace for module tensor categories over braided tensor categories

Given a braided pivotal category $\mathcal C$ and a pivotal module tensor category $\mathcal M$, we define a functor $\mathrm{Tr}_{\mathcal C}:\mathcal M \to \mathcal C$, called the associated categorified trace. By a result of Bezrukavnikov, Finkelberg and Ostrik, the functor $\mathrm{Tr}_{\mathcal C}$ comes equipped with natural isomorphisms $\tau_{x,y}:\mathrm{Tr}_{\mathcal C}(x \otimes y) \to \mathrm{Tr}_{\mathcal C}(y \otimes x)$, which we call the traciators. This situation lends itself to a diagramatic calculus of `strings on cylinders', where the traciator corresponds to wrapping a string around the back of a cylinder. We show that $\mathrm{Tr}_{\mathcal C}$ in fact has a much richer graphical calculus in which the tubes are allowed to branch and braid. Given algebra objects $A$ and $B$, we prove that $\mathrm{Tr}_{\mathcal C}(A)$ and $\mathrm{Tr}_{\mathcal C}(A \otimes B)$ are again algebra objects. Moreover, provided certain mild assumptions are satisfied, $\mathrm{Tr}_{\mathcal C}(A)$ and $\mathrm{Tr}_{\mathcal C}(A \otimes B)$ are semisimple whenever $A$ and $B$ are semisimple.Comment: 49 pages, many figure

Projections and idempotents with fixed diagonal and the homotopy problem for unit tight frames

We investigate the topological and metric structure of the set of idempotent operators and projections which have prescribed diagonal entries with respect to a fixed orthonormal basis of a Hilbert space. As an application, we settle some cases of conjectures of Larson, Dykema, and Strawn on the connectedness of the set of unit-norm tight frames.Comment: New title and introductio

Unitary Equivalence to a Complex Symmetric Matrix: Low Dimensions

A matrix T∈Mn(C) is UECSM if it is unitarily equivalent to a complex symmetric (i.e., self-transpose) matrix. We develop several techniques for studying this property in dimensions three and four. Among other things, we completely characterize 4×4 nilpotent matrices which are UECSM and we settle an open problem which has lingered in the 3×3 case. We conclude with a discussion concerning a crucial difference which makes dimension three so different from dimensions four and above