Eigenvalues - real and imaginary

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jpildave
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Am I understanding this right?

Let's say I have a 15x15 matrix called Z. Then the matrix of eigenvalues calculated from Z, called D, can have two forms - either diagonal or block diagonal.

If the matrix D comes out with values only on the diagonal, then there are only real values. But, if the matrix D comes out block diagonal, then there are real and imaginary values.

The only reason the matrix D comes out block diagonal is if it is not symmetric, not only in terms of dimensions, but in terms of the actual values in the original matrix Z.

Correct?
 
I believe diagonal is a subset of Jordan block diagonal, since you can count one number as a Jordan block.


Is each entry in Z a real number or complex?


[itex] <br /> \left[<br /> \begin{array}{rr}<br /> 0&-1\\<br /> 1&0\\<br /> \end{array}<br /> \right]<br /> [/itex]
has eigenvalues = i, -i