A real symmetric matrix can be diagonalised by an orthogonal transformation. This statement is not true, in general, for a symmetric matrix with complex elements, which is discussed in the present thesis. A complex symmetric matrix can be diagonalised by an orthogonal transformation, if and only if each eigenspace of the matrix has an orthonormal basis. If there is an eigenspace, where every orthogonal basis contains an isotropic vector, the matrix can not be diagonalised. In the present thesis isotropic vectors are presented in greater detail. Also, two possible symmetric canonical forms are obtained for the non-diagonalisable case.
|