Can we retrieve the inverse of matrix A in this example?

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    Example Inverse Matrix
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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the possibility of retrieving the inverse of a diagonal matrix A from the product of a unitary matrix U and A, denoted as UA. Participants explore the conditions under which this is feasible, the uniqueness of A, and the implications of the properties of U and A on the invertibility and decomposition of UA.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants propose that if UA is not invertible, then A cannot be retrieved.
  • Others argue that even if UA is square and potentially invertible, the decomposition into U and A may not be straightforward.
  • A participant suggests that the transpose conjugate of UA could provide insights into the relationship between U and A.
  • There is a discussion about the uniqueness of A, with some noting that while A is unique, it is not necessarily diagonal.
  • Some participants mention that if A is a real diagonal matrix, the diagonal elements may not be uniquely determined without additional information.
  • It is noted that if all diagonal elements of A are positive real numbers, then A can be uniquely determined from UA.
  • One participant highlights that the equations derived from the product of UA and its transpose conjugate yield relationships that could help in determining A.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the conditions necessary for retrieving A and its inverse from UA. While some agree on the uniqueness of A under certain conditions, others emphasize the lack of uniqueness in more general cases. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the general feasibility of decomposing UA into U and A.

Contextual Notes

Participants mention that the invertibility of UA does not guarantee the ability to decompose it into U and A, and that additional assumptions about the nature of A (e.g., being a real diagonal matrix with positive elements) are crucial for determining A uniquely.

Adel Makram
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Suppose we have a product formed by a multiplication of a unitary matrix U and a diagonal matrix A, can we retrieve the inverse of A without knowing either U or A?
 
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If you have UA, check if it's invertible. If it's not, there is no point trying to find the inverse of A because it does not exist.
 
blue_leaf77 said:
If you have UA, check if it's invertible. If it's not, there is no point trying to find the inverse of A because it does not exist.
U and A are square matrices of the same rank, so UA is a square matrix too and it should be invertible. But even in this case, how to find A and its inverse from UA? In other words, can we decompose UA into U and A?
 
Being square does not guarantee that it's invertible.
Adel Makram said:
can we decompose UA into U and A?
I will give you a hint, what is the transpose conjugate of ##UA##?
 
blue_leaf77 said:
Being square does not guarantee that it's invertible.
What if we find that UA is invertiabe, can we decompose it?
 
Probably I should also emphasized that ##A## is always unique but not necessarily diagonal. Which means, if you sought for a diagonal ##A## it may be to no avail.
 
blue_leaf77 said:
Probably I should also emphasized that ##A## is always unique but not necessarily diagonal. Which means, if you sought for a diagonal ##A## it may be to no avail.
I appreciate your contribution to answer but frankly I have no clear idea about your words. My question is clear from the beginning and still I have no answer on it, will I be able to decompose UA into U and A where is U is a unique unitary and A a unique diagonal or no?
 
Adel Makram said:
I appreciate your contribution to answer but frankly I have no clear idea about your words. My question is clear from the beginning and still I have no answer on it, will I be able to decompose UA into U and A where is U is a unique unitary and A a unique diagonal or no?
@blue_leaf77's question in post #4 contains the answer. What can you say about ##(UA)^\dagger = \overline{(UA)}^\tau## and what happens, if you multiply this by ##UA##?
 
fresh_42 said:
@blue_leaf77's question in post #4 contains the answer. What can you say about ##(UA)^\dagger = \overline{(UA)}^\tau## and what happens, if you multiply this by ##UA##?
We will get ##A^2## because ##U^TU=1##, right
 
  • #10
Adel Makram said:
We will get ##A^2## because ##U^TU=1##, right
If you interpret ##A^2=\overline{A}A##, then yes. You haven't said that ##A## is a real diagonal matrix, so ##\overline{A} \neq A## in general. This still doesn't give you a unique description of the diagonal elements, but some additional information. Maybe this can be used in ##1=(UA)(UA)^{-1}##.
 
  • #11
fresh_42 said:
If you interpret ##A^2=\overline{A}A##, then yes. You haven't said that ##A## is a real diagonal matrix, so ##\overline{A} \neq A## in general. This still doesn't give you a unique description of the diagonal elements, but some additional information. Maybe this can be used in ##1=(UA)(UA)^{-1}##.
But why is A, if it is real diagonal, not unique? If I get A2 then each diagonal element in A is ##\sqrt {A^2}##.
 
  • #12
Adel Makram said:
But why is A, if it is real diagonal, not unique? If I get A2 then each diagonal element in A is ##\sqrt {A^2}##.
Again, you have only said ##A=diag(a_1,\ldots,a_n)##, so ##a_i \in \mathbb{C}## and ##(UA)^\dagger \cdot (UA)= \overline{A}\cdot A## is all you can conclude. Esp. this gives you ##n## equations ##c_j=\overline{a}_j \cdot a_j## which cannot be solved uniquely without additional information. Even in the real case there are two solutions for each ##j\, : \,\pm \, a_j##
 
  • #13
fresh_42 said:
Again, you have only said ##A=diag(a_1,\ldots,a_n)##, so ##a_i \in \mathbb{C}## and ##(UA)^\dagger \cdot (UA)= \overline{A}\cdot A## is all you can conclude. Esp. this gives you ##n## equations ##c_j=\overline{a}_j \cdot a_j## which cannot be solved uniquely without additional information. Even in the real case there are two solutions for each ##j\, : \,\pm \, a_j##
So in special case where all elements of A are real and positive, then no additional information is required and A is solved.
 
  • #14
Adel Makram said:
So in special case where all elements of A are real and positive, then no additional information is required and A is solved.
Yes.
If all diagonal elements of ##A=diag(a_j)## are positive real numbers, then you can compute ##\overline{(UA)}^\tau## if you know ##UA##, then multiply both to ##\overline{(UA)}^\tau\cdot (UA)=\overline{A}^\tau \cdot A=A \cdot A = diag(a_j^2)## which has to be diagonal, if the given conditions for ##U## and ##A## are correct. Thus you have ##n## equations ##c_j :=\left(\overline{(UA)}^\tau(UA) \right)_{jj}=a_j^2## which determine ##A## and with it ##A^{-1}## and ##U=(UA)A^{-1}##.
 
  • #15
fresh_42 said:
Yes.
If all diagonal elements of ##A=diag(a_j)## are positive real numbers, then you can compute ##\overline{(UA)}^\tau## if you know ##UA##, then multiply both to ##\overline{(UA)}^\tau\cdot (UA)=\overline{A}^\tau \cdot A=A \cdot A = diag(a_j^2)## which has to be diagonal, if the given conditions for ##U## and ##A## are correct. Thus you have ##n## equations ##c_j :=\left(\overline{(UA)}^\tau(UA) \right)_{jj}=a_j^2## which determine ##A## and with it ##A^{-1}## and ##U=(UA)A^{-1}##.

Or more generally: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polar_decomposition
 

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