Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2016 / ib / Paper 3 / 10F (Linear Algebra)

The real and imaginary parts of the operator are uniquelyThey are self-adjoint operators, and $\alpha ={\alpha }_1+i{\alpha }_2$. Conversely such a decomposition has ${\alpha }^{\ast }={\alpha }_1-i{\alpha }_2$. Expanding both products givesConsequently $\alpha$ is a normal operator exactly when its self-adjoint real and imaginary parts commute.

We prove the finite-dimensional spectral theorem for normal operators by induction on dimension. A complex linear operator has an eigenvector $v$ with eigenvalue $\lambda$, by the fundamental theorem of algebra. For a normal operator $T$, the operator $T-\lambda I$ is also normal, andfor every $w$. Applying this to $v$ shows $T^{\ast }v=\overline{\lambda }v$.

Normalize $v$. Its orthogonal complement $W=v^{\perp }$ is invariant under both $T$ and $T^{\ast }$: the adjoint operator identities pair $Tw$ with $v$ through $T^{\ast }v$, and $T^{\ast }w$ with $v$ through $Tv$. The restricted operator on $W$ remains normal, and its adjoint is the restriction of $T^{\ast }$. Induction supplies an orthonormal eigenbasis of $W$, which together with $v$ gives one for $V$.

Conversely, in an orthonormal basis of eigenvectors, $T$ is diagonal and $T^{\ast }$ is the diagonal matrix of the conjugate eigenvalues. The two diagonal operators commute. Thus normality is equivalent to an orthonormal eigenbasis. The zero-dimensional case is immediate.

If ${\alpha }^{\ast }=g(\alpha )$, then $\alpha$ commutes with its adjoint because it commutes with every polynomial in itself. Hence $\alpha$ is a normal operator.

Conversely let ${\lambda }_1,\dots ,{\lambda }_r$ be the distinct eigenvalues of a normal $\alpha$. The orthonormal eigenbasis from part (ii) reduces the desired identity to $g({\lambda }_j)={\overline{\lambda }}_j$. Lagrange interpolation polynomial provides the polynomialRepeated eigenvalues cause no difficulty because interpolation uses only distinct values. If $V=\{0\}$, use $g=0$. This proves both directions of the third equivalence.