Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2013 / iii / Paper 1 / 2

A linear map $\alpha$ is a nilpotent endomorphism if ${\alpha }^q=0$ for some positive integer $q$, and a semisimple endomorphism if it is diagonalizable over $\mathbb{C}$. Decompose $V$ into its generalized eigenspaces $V_{\lambda }=\ker (\alpha -\lambda I{)}^d$, where $d=\dim V$. Define ${\alpha }_s$ on $V_{\lambda }$ to be $\lambda I$, and set ${\alpha }_n=\alpha -{\alpha }_s$. Then ${\alpha }_s$ is diagonalizable, ${\alpha }_n$ is nilpotent, and both preserve these vector subspaces and commute. ThusFor uniqueness, suppose $\alpha =S+N$ with $S$ semisimple, $N$ nilpotent and $SN=NS$. Both commute with $\alpha$, so preserve each $V_{\lambda }$. On an eigenspace of $S$ of eigenvalue $\mu$ inside $V_{\lambda }$, the map $\alpha$ is $\mu I+N$ and has only the eigenvalue $\mu$. Since the same subspace lies in $V_{\lambda }$, $\mu =\lambda$. Hence $S=\lambda I$ on $V_{\lambda }$, proving $S={\alpha }_s$ and $N={\alpha }_n$. This is the additive Jordan–Chevalley decomposition.

We need a polynomial consequence of this decomposition. Hermite interpolation supplies a polynomial $p$ with $p(\alpha )={\alpha }_s$, by prescribing $p(t)\equiv \lambda (\mathrm{mod}(t-\lambda {)}^d)$ for each eigenvalue. For any endomorphism $T$, its semisimple part can likewise be expressed as a polynomial in $T$ with zero constant term: if zero is an eigenvalue, its interpolation condition already forces this; if not, add the independent condition $p(0)=0$.

On $\mathrm{End}(V)$, the maps $\mathrm{ad}{\alpha }_s$ and $\mathrm{ad}{\alpha }_n$ commute. The first is diagonalizable, with eigenvalues $\lambda -\mu$ on $\mathrm{Hom}(V_{\mu },V_{\lambda })$. The second is nilpotent, sincewhich vanishes for $k\ge 2q-1$ when $N^q=0$. Uniqueness therefore proves adjoint compatibility of additive Jordan decomposition: $\mathrm{ad}{\alpha }_s=(\mathrm{ad}\alpha {)}_s$.

Now assume $\alpha \in M$. The condition $[\alpha ,W]\subseteq U\subseteq W$ implies that both $W$ and $U$ are invariant under $\mathrm{ad}\alpha$, and every polynomial in $\mathrm{ad}\alpha$ with zero constant term maps $W$ into $U$. Define $\beta$ to be multiplication by $\overline{\lambda }$ on $V_{\lambda }$. It commutes with $\alpha$. On $\mathrm{Hom}(V_{\mu },V_{\lambda })$, $\mathrm{ad}\beta$ acts by $\overline{\lambda -\mu }$. Polynomial interpolation on the finite set of differences gives $\mathrm{ad}\beta =q(\mathrm{ad}{\alpha }_s)$ with $q(0)=0$. The preceding paragraph then expresses $\mathrm{ad}\beta$ as a polynomial in $\mathrm{ad}\alpha$ with zero constant term. Consequently $[\beta ,W]\subseteq U$, so $\beta \in M$.

The assumed trace orthogonality nilpotence lemma now follows directly. On $V_{\lambda }$, $\alpha =\lambda I+{\alpha }_n$ and $\beta =\overline{\lambda }I$, while the matrix trace of the nilpotent restriction of ${\alpha }_n$ is zero. HenceEvery summand is nonnegative, so every eigenvalue of $\alpha$ is zero. Its Jordan–Chevalley decomposition therefore has ${\alpha }_s=0$, and $\alpha$ is nilpotent. Notice that neither $U$ nor $W$ was required to be a Lie subalgebra.