Canonical basis

In mathematics, a canonical basis is a basis of an algebraic structure that is canonical in a sense that depends on the precise context:

• In a coordinate space, and more generally in a free module, it refers to the standard basis defined by the Kronecker delta.
• In a polynomial ring, it refers to its standard basis given by the monomials, $(X^i)_i$.
• For finite extension fields, it means the polynomial basis.
• In linear algebra, it refers to a set of n linearly independent generalized eigenvectors of an n×n matrix $A$, if the set is composed entirely of Jordan chains.^[1]

Representation theory

In representation theory there are several basis that are called "canonical", e.g. Lusztig's canonical basis and closely related Kashiwara's crystal basis in quantum groups and their representations. There is a general concept underlying these basis:

Consider the ring of integral Laurent polynomials $\mathcal{Z}:=\mathbb{Z}[v,v^{-1}]$ with its two subrings $\mathcal{Z}^{\pm}:=\mathbb{Z}[v^{\pm 1}]$ and the automorphism $\overline{\cdot}$ that is defined by $\overline{v}:=v^{-1}$.

A precanonical structure on a free $\mathcal{Z}$-module $F$ consists of

• A standard basis $(t_i)_{i\in I}$ of $F$,
• A partial order on $I$ that is interval finite, i.e. $(-\infty,i] := \{j\in I | j\leq i\}$ is finite for all $i\in I$,
• A dualization operation, i.e. a bijection $F\to F$ of order two that is $\overline{\cdot}$-semilinear and will be denoted by $\overline{\cdot}$ as well.

If a precanonical structure is given, then one can define the $\mathcal{Z}^{\pm}$ submodule $F^{\pm} := \sum \mathcal{Z}^{\pm} t_j$ of $F$.

A canonical basis at $v=0$ of the precanonical structure is then a $\mathcal{Z}$-basis $(c_i)_{i\in I}$ of $F$ that satisfies:

• $\overline{c_i}=c_i$ and
• $c_i \in \sum_{j\leq i} \mathcal{Z}^+ t_j$and $c_i \equiv t_i \mod vF^+$

for all $i\in I$. A canonical basis at $v=\infty$ is analogously defined to be a basis $(\widetilde{c}_i)_{i\in I}$ that satisfies

• $\overline{\widetilde{c}_i}=\widetilde{c}_i$ and
• $\widetilde{c}_i \in \sum_{j\leq i} \mathcal{Z}^- t_j$ and $\widetilde{c}_i \equiv t_i \mod v^{-1}F^-$

for all $i\in I$. The naming "at $v=\infty$" alludes to the fact $\lim_{v\to\infty} v^{-1} =0$ and hence the "specialization" $v\mapsto\infty$ corresponds to quotienting out the relation $v^{-1}=0$.

One can show that there exists at most one canonical basis at v=0 (and at most one at $v=\infty$) for each precanonical structure. A sufficient condition for existence is that the polynomials $r_{ij}\in\mathcal{Z}$ defined by $\overline{t_j}=\sum_i r_{ij} t_i$ satisfy $r_{ii}=1$ and $r_{ij}\neq 0 \implies i\leq j$.

A canonical basis at v=0 ($v=\infty$) induces an isomorphism from $\textstyle F^+\cap \overline{F^+} = \sum_i \mathbb{Z}c_i$ to $F^+/vF^+$ ($\textstyle F^{-} \cap \overline{F^{-}}=\sum_i \mathbb{Z}\widetilde{c}_i \to F^{-}/v^{-1} F^{-}$ respectively).

Examples

Quantum groups

The canonical basis of quantum groups in the sense of Lusztig and Kashiwara are canonical basis at $v=0$.

Hecke algebras

Let $(W,S)$ be a Coxeter group. The corresponding Iwahori-Hecke algebra $H$ has the standard basis $(T_w)_{w\in W}$, the group is partially ordered by the Bruhat order which is interval finite and has a dualization operation defined by $\overline{T_w}:=T_{w^{-1}}^{-1}$. This is a precanonical structure on $H$ that satisfies the sufficient condition above and the corresponding canonical basis of $H$ at $v=0$ is the Kazhdan-Lusztig basis $C_w' = \sum_{y\leq w} P_{y,w}(v^2) T_w$ with $P_{y,w}$ being the Kazhdan-Lusztig polynomials.

Linear algebra

If we are given an n × n matrix $A$ and wish to find a matrix $J$ in Jordan normal form, similar to $A$, we are interested only in sets of linearly independent generalized eigenvectors. A matrix in Jordan normal form is an "almost diagonal matrix," that is, as close to diagonal as possible. A diagonal matrix $D$ is a special case of a matrix in Jordan normal form. An ordinary eigenvector is a special case of a generalized eigenvector.

Every n × n matrix $A$ possesses n linearly independent generalized eigenvectors. Generalized eigenvectors corresponding to distinct eigenvalues are linearly independent. If $\lambda$ is an eigenvalue of $A$ of algebraic multiplicity $\mu$, then $A$ will have $\mu$ linearly independent generalized eigenvectors corresponding to $\lambda$.

For any given n × n matrix $A$, there are infinitely many ways to pick the n linearly independent generalized eigenvectors. If they are chosen in a particularly judicious manner, we can use these vectors to show that $A$ is similar to a matrix in Jordan normal form. In particular,

Definition: A set of n linearly independent generalized eigenvectors is a canonical basis if it is composed entirely of Jordan chains.

Thus, once we have determined that a generalized eigenvector of rank m is in a canonical basis, it follows that the m − 1 vectors $\bold x_{m-1}, \bold x_{m-2}, \ldots , \bold x_1$ that are in the Jordan chain generated by $\bold x_m$ are also in the canonical basis.^[2]

Computation

Let $\lambda_i$ be an eigenvalue of $A$ of algebraic multiplicity $\mu_i$. First, find the ranks (matrix ranks) of the matrices $(A - \lambda_i I), (A - \lambda_i I)^2, \ldots , (A - \lambda_i I)^{m_i}$. The integer $m_i$ is determined to be the first integer for which $(A - \lambda_i I)^{m_i}$ has rank $n - \mu_i$ (n being the number of rows or columns of $A$, that is, $A$ is n × n).

Now define

$\rho_k = rank(A - \lambda_i I)^{k-1} - rank(A - \lambda_i I)^k \qquad (k = 1, 2, \ldots , m_i).$

The variable $\rho_k$ designates the number of linearly independent generalized eigenvectors of rank k (generalized eigenvector rank; see generalized eigenvector) corresponding to the eigenvalue $\lambda_i$ that will appear in a canonical basis for $A$. Note that

$rank(A - \lambda_i I)^0 = rank(I) = n .$

Once we have determined the number of generalized eigenvectors of each rank that a canonical basis has, we can obtain the vectors explicitly (see generalized eigenvector).^[3]

Example

This example illustrates a canonical basis with two Jordan chains. Unfortunately, it is a little difficult to construct an interesting example of low order.^[4] The matrix

$A = \begin{pmatrix} 4 & 1 & 1 & 0 & 0 & -1 \\ 0 & 4 & 2 & 0 & 0 & 1 \\ 0 & 0 & 4 & 1 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 & 5 & 1 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 5 & 2 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 4 \end{pmatrix}$

has eigenvalues $\lambda_1 = 4$ and $\lambda_2 = 5$ with algebraic multiplicities $\mu_1 = 4$ and $\mu_2 = 2$, but geometric multiplicities $\gamma_1 = 1$ and $\gamma_2 = 1$.

For $\lambda_1 = 4,$ we have $n - \mu_1 = 6 - 4 = 2,$

$(A - 4I)$ has rank 5,

$(A - 4I)^2$ has rank 4,

$(A - 4I)^3$ has rank 3,

$(A - 4I)^4$ has rank 2.

Therefore $m_1 = 4.$

$\rho_4 = rank(A - 4I)^3 - rank(A - 4I)^4 = 3 - 2 = 1,$

$\rho_3 = rank(A - 4I)^2 - rank(A - 4I)^3 = 4 - 3 = 1,$

$\rho_2 = rank(A - 4I)^1 - rank(A - 4I)^2 = 5 - 4 = 1,$

$\rho_1 = rank(A - 4I)^0 - rank(A - 4I)^1 = 6 - 5 = 1.$

Thus, a canonical basis for $A$ will have, corresponding to $\lambda_1 = 4,$ one generalized eigenvector each of ranks 4, 3, 2 and 1.

For $\lambda_2 = 5,$ we have $n - \mu_2 = 6 - 2 = 4,$

$(A - 5I)$ has rank 5,

$(A - 5I)^2$ has rank 4.

Therefore $m_2 = 2.$

$\rho_2 = rank(A - 5I)^1 - rank(A - 5I)^2 = 5 - 4 = 1,$

$\rho_1 = rank(A - 5I)^0 - rank(A - 5I)^1 = 6 - 5 = 1.$

Thus, a canonical basis for $A$ will have, corresponding to $\lambda_2 = 5,$ one generalized eigenvector each of ranks 2 and 1.

A canonical basis for $A$ is

$\left\{ \bold x_1, \bold x_2, \bold x_3, \bold x_4, \bold y_1, \bold y_2 \right\} = \left\{ \begin{pmatrix} -4 \\ 0 \\ 0 \\ 0 \\ 0 \\ 0 \end{pmatrix} \begin{pmatrix} -27 \\ -4 \\ 0 \\ 0 \\ 0 \\ 0 \end{pmatrix} \begin{pmatrix} 25 \\ -25 \\ -2 \\ 0 \\ 0 \\ 0 \end{pmatrix} \begin{pmatrix} 0 \\ 36 \\ -12 \\ -2 \\ 2 \\ -1 \end{pmatrix} \begin{pmatrix} 3 \\ 2 \\ 1 \\ 1 \\ 0 \\ 0 \end{pmatrix} \begin{pmatrix} -8 \\ -4 \\ -1 \\ 0 \\ 1 \\ 0 \end{pmatrix} \right\}.$

$\bold x_1$ is the ordinary eigenvector associated with $\lambda_1$. $\bold x_2, \bold x_3$ and $\bold x_4$ are generalized eigenvectors associated with $\lambda_1$. $\bold y_1$ is the ordinary eigenvector associated with $\lambda_2$. $\bold y_2$ is a generalized eigenvector associated with $\lambda_2$.

A matrix $J$ in Jordan normal form, similar to $A$ is obtained as follows:

$M = \begin{pmatrix} \bold x_1 & \bold x_2 & \bold x_3 & \bold x_4 & \bold y_1 & \bold y_2 \end{pmatrix} = \begin{pmatrix} -4 & -27 & 25 & 0 & 3 & -8 \\ 0 & -4 & -25 & 36 & 2 & -4 \\ 0 & 0 & -2 & -12 & 1 & -1 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 & -2 & 1 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 & 2 & 0 & 1 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 & -1 & 0 & 0 \end{pmatrix},$

$J = \begin{pmatrix} 4 & 1 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 4 & 1 & 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 4 & 1 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 & 4 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 5 & 1 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 5 \end{pmatrix},$

where the matrix $M$ is a generalized modal matrix for $A$ and $AM = MJ$.^[5]

See also

• Canonical form
• Normal form (disambiguation)
• Polynomial basis
• Normal basis
• Change of basis

Notes

1. Bronson (1970, p. 196)
2. Bronson (1970, pp. 196,197)
3. Bronson (1970, pp. 197,198)
4. Nering (1970, pp. 122,123)
5. Bronson (1970, p. 203)

References

• Bronson, Richard (1970), Matrix Methods: An Introduction, New York: Academic Press, LCCN 70097490
• Deng, Bangming; Ju, Jie; Parshall, Brian; Wang, Jianpan (2008), Finite Dimensional Algebras and Quantum Groups, Mathematical surveys and monographs 150, Providence, R.I.: American Mathematical Society, ISBN 9780821875315
• Nering, Evar D. (1970), Linear Algebra and Matrix Theory (2nd ed.), New York: Wiley, LCCN 76091646