The characteristic-polynomial and eigenvalue conjecture for unit-primitive matrices

Let AnA_n be the n×nn\times n unit-primitive matrix, let InI_n be the n×nn\times n identity matrix, and let Pn(x)P_n(x) be the polynomial defined by

Pn(x)=k=0nP(n,k)xk.P_n(x)=\sum_{k=0}^{n}P(n,k)x^k.

Let Un(x)U_n(x) denote the Chebyshev polynomial of the second kind, defined by U0(x)=1U_0(x)=1, U1(x)=2xU_1(x)=2x, and Un(x)=2xUn1(x)Un2(x)U_n(x)=2xU_{n-1}(x)-U_{n-2}(x). For positive integers nn, define δn,j=2cos(2j12n+1π)\delta_{n,j}=2\cos\left(\frac{2j-1}{2n+1}\pi\right) for j=1,,nj=1,\ldots,n.

Unit-primitive matrix conjecture. The characteristic polynomial of AnA_n is

fAn(x)=det(xInAn)=xnPn(1/x),f_{A_n}(x)=\det(xI_n-A_n)=x^nP_n(1/x),

and its nn eigenvalues are

wn,j=Un1(δn,j),j=1,,n.w_{n,j}=U_{n-1}(\delta_{n,j}),\qquad j=1,\ldots,n.

These conjectural identities connect the characteristic polynomial and spectrum of the unit-primitive matrices with Chebyshev polynomials. The source later indicates that results concerning the eigenvalues and characteristic polynomial are proved, but the supplied parser status is unknown; the resolution should therefore be checked against the paper.

Sources & referencesView supporting material

Primary source

Guoce Xin and Yueming Zhong, “Proving some conjectures on Kekulé numbers for certain benzenoids by using Chebyshev polynomials”, arXiv:2201.02376 (2022).

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