On a class of non-Hermitian matrices with positive definite Schur complements

Abstract

Given a positive definite matrix $A\in {\mathbb{C}}^{n\times n}$ and a Hermitian matrix $D\in {\mathbb{C}}^{m\times m}$, we characterize under which conditions there exists a strictly contractive matrix $K\in {\mathbb{C}}^{n\times m}$ such that the non-Hermitian block-matrix \[ \left[ \begin{array}{cc} A & -AK \\ K^*A & D \end{array} \right] \] has a positive definite Schur complement with respect to its submatrix~$A$. Additionally, we show that~$K$ can be chosen such that diagonalizability of the block-matrix is guaranteed and we compute its spectrum. Moreover, we show a connection to the recently developed frame theory for Krein spaces.

15 pages, this is a corrected and enhanced version of the originally submitted manuscript