Involution

An involution is a group element $s$ satisfying $s^2=1$. Some conventions require $s\ne 1$.

Let $F$ be a linear map on a vector space over a field of characteristic different from two, with $F^2=I$. ThenThe projections satisfy $P_{+}{P}_{-}=0$ and $P_{+}+P_{-}=I$, giving existence and uniqueness of the decomposition. In characteristic two, the two signs coincide and the conclusion need not hold.

For a linear operator with $A^2=I$, every even power is $I$ and every odd power is $A$. Separating the absolutely convergent matrix exponential series into those powers proves the displayed identity without a Hermiticity assumption. If $A$ is also a Hermitian operator, the exponential is a unitary operator.