Difference between revisions of "Hermitian matrix"
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| − | A '''Hermitian matrix''' is one that satisfies <math>M=M^\dagger</math>, where <math>M^\dagger</math> is the Hermitian conjugate of <math>M</math> (i.e., the matrix formed by transposing <math>M</math> and taking the complex conjugate of each element). As an example, the most general 2x2 Hermitian [[matrix]] has the form | + | A '''Hermitian matrix''' is one that satisfies <math>M=M^\dagger</math>, where <math>M^\dagger</math> is the Hermitian conjugate of <math>M</math> (i.e., the matrix formed by transposing <math>M</math> and taking the [[complex conjugate]] of each element). As an example, the most general 2x2 Hermitian [[matrix]] has the form |
<math> | <math> | ||
Revision as of 13:54, July 29, 2019
A Hermitian matrix is one that satisfies , where is the Hermitian conjugate of (i.e., the matrix formed by transposing and taking the complex conjugate of each element). As an example, the most general 2x2 Hermitian matrix has the form
for arbitrary complex numbers . In the case where all elements of the matrix are real, a Hermitian matrix becomes symmetric (as Hermitian conjugation then becomes equivalent to transposition).
Properties of Hermitian matrices
- The eigenvalues are all real.
- The eigenvectors corresponding to different eigenvalues are orthogonal.
Because of these properties, Hermitian matrices have important applications in quantum mechanics.