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Viewing Version 7 of 'square root of positive definite matrix'
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Title of object: square root of positive definite matrix
Canonical Name: SquareRootOfPositiveDefiniteMatrix
Type: Definition

Created on: 2005-05-17 15:24:37
Modified on: 2006-02-06 23:50:50

Creator: rspuzio
Modifier: Mathprof
Author: rspuzio
Author: matte

Classification: msc:15A48

Preamble:

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\newtheorem{thm}{Theorem}
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Content:

Suppose $M$ is a positive definite Hermitean matrix. Then $M$ has a diagonalization
$$
M= P^* \operatorname{diag}(\lambda_1, \ldots, \lambda_n) P
$$
where $P$ is a unitary matrix and
$\lambda_1, \ldots, \lambda_n$ are the eigenvalues of $M$.

We can now define the \emph{squar{e} roo{t}} of $M$ as the matrix
$$
M^{1/2}= P^T \operatorname{diag}(\sqrt{\lambda_1}, \ldots, \sqrt{\lambda_n}) P.
$$
The following properties are clear
\begin{enumerate}
\item $M^{1/2} M^{1/2}=M$,
\item $M^{1/2}$ is Hermitean and positive definite.
\item $M^{1/2}$ and $M$ commute
\item $(M^{1/2})^T=(M^T)^{1/2}$.
\item $(M^{1/2})^{-1}=(M^{-1})^{1/2}$, so one can write $M^{-1/2}$
\item If the eigenvalues of $M$ are $(\lambda_1, \ldots, \lambda_n)$, then
the eigenvalues of $M^{1/2}$ are
$(\sqrt{\lambda_1}, \ldots, \sqrt{\lambda_n})$.
\end{enumerate}