On the dimension of orbits of matrix pencils under strict equivalence

Abstract

We prove that, given two matrix pencils $L$ and $M$, if $M$ belongs to the closure of the orbit of $L$ under strict equivalence, then the dimension of the orbit of $M$ is smaller than or equal to the dimension of the orbit of $L$, and the equality is only attained when $M$ belongs to the orbit of $L$. Our proof uses only the majorization involving the eigenstructures of $L$ and $M$ which characterizes the inclusion relationship between orbit closures, together with the formula for the codimension of the orbit of a pencil in terms of its eigenstruture.