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If $U$ is a unitary matrix with no eigenvalue equal to one, the displayed inverse Cayley transform of a Hermitian matrix is Hermitian. Since $U^{†}=U^{-1}$, taking the Hermitian conjugate gives $B^{†}=-i(I-U^{-1}{)}^{-1}(I+U^{-1})=i(I-U{)}^{-1}(I+U)=B$, using commutativity of rational functions of $U$. An eigenvalue $e^{i\theta }\ne 1$ is mapped to the real number $-\cot (\theta /2)$. Conversely $U=(B-iI)(B+iI{)}^{-1}$, so this correspondence identifies Hermitian matrices with unitary matrices whose spectrum avoids one.

A complex square matrix $U$ is a unitary matrix when $U^{†}U=I$, equivalently $U^{-1}=U^{†}$. Here $†$ denotes the adjoint matrix, the conjugate transpose. Such a matrix preserves the standard complex inner product and its Euclidean norm.

A real symmetric matrix $A$ is a Hermitian matrix, so $A^{†}=A$. For arbitrary complex $\mathbf{x}$,The imaginary cross terms cancel because $A$ is Hermitian. Reversing the signs gives the same identity:In particular, $(A+iI)\mathbf{x}=0$ implies $|\mathbf{x}{|}^2=0$, so $A+iI$ has zero kernel of a linear map. It is a square matrix, and the rank-nullity theorem therefore makes it invertible. The same argument proves invertibility of $A-iI$.

The proposed matrixis consequently well-defined. For any $\mathbf{y}$, put $\mathbf{x}=(A+iI{)}^{-1}\mathbf{y}$. The two norm identities show directly thatTo verify the unitary matrix identity explicitly, take adjoints:The two shifts commute, because both are polynomials in $A$. HenceThusThe imaginary shifts are invertible, and their equal norm changes cancel in the quotient. This is the Cayley transform of a Hermitian matrix in the $(A-iI)(A+iI{)}^{-1}$ convention.

Apply the implicit midpoint rule, equivalently the Crank-Nicolson method, to the semidiscrete equation:It has order two. Its amplification matrix is the Cayley transformBecause $H_h$ is Hermitian, $Q$ is unitary. Hence $\Vert {\mathbf{u}}^{n+1}{\Vert }_2=\Vert {\mathbf{u}}^n{\Vert }_2$ exactly.

Part (a) makes each ${\lambda }_j$ real. In the eigenvector basis,and $|{\lambda }_j+ia{|}^2={\lambda }_j^2+a^2>0$. Hence $\boxed{A+iaI\text{ is invertible}}$.

All factors that are rational functions of $A$ commute. Taking the Hermitian conjugate reverses product order and givesThereforeso $\boxed{V\text{ is unitary}}$. This is a Cayley transform of a Hermitian matrix, with scale $a$ and the convention that an infinite real eigenvalue maps to one.

Applying it to each eigenvector yieldsThe eigenvectors are unchanged, and $|{\nu }_j|=1$ because numerator and denominator are complex conjugates. No ${\nu }_j$ equals one when $a>0$. The scalar map is injective on real $\lambda$, so the eigenspaces, including any degeneracies, are preserved exactly.

Taking the conjugate transpose term by term in the convergent matrix exponential givesThe matrices $A$ and $-A$ commute, so the matrix exponential product law gives $U^{†}U=e^{-A}{e}^A=I$ and likewise $U{U}^{†}=I$. Hence $\boxed{U\text{ is unitary}}$.

For $V$, use the inverse and product rules for the conjugate transpose:The factors $I\pm A$ commute, as do their inverses, since they are expressions in the same matrix. Consequentlyand similarly $V{V}^{†}=I$. Therefore $\boxed{V\text{ is unitary}}$. This rational construction is the skew-Hermitian form of the Cayley transform of a Hermitian matrix, obtained by writing $A=iH$ with $H$ a Hermitian matrix.