Generic Nullity of Generalized Commutators

Abstract

We study the generic nullity of generalized commutator operators \[L_{\mathbf{A}}(X)=s_{k+1}(A_1,\cdots,A_k,X)\] on matrix algebras, where $s_{k+1}$ denotes the standard polynomial. Dixon and Pressman conjectured an explicit formula for the generic nullity of $L_{\mathbf{A}}$, and Brassil and Reichstein proved the conjecture when $k$ is even. In this paper, we settle the remaining case where $k$ is odd. Our proof first treats the boundary cases $k=2n-3$ in dimensions $n$ and $n+1$ using degree decompositions and graph-theoretic interpretations of alternating trace forms, and then establishes a dimension-extension argument from $n$ to $n+2$. Consequently, together with the result of Brassil and Reichstein, we obtain a complete proof of the Dixon-Pressman generic nullity conjecture over any field of characteristic zero.

21 pages