From standard linear algebra we know that a square matrix X can be diagonalized if and only it is a so-called normal matrix, that is if X∈Rn×n we have XXT=XTX or if X∈Cn×n we have XX†=X†X. The matrix has then a set of eigenpairs
(λ1,u1),…,(λn,un),and the eigenvalues are given by the diagonal matrix
Σ=Diag(λ1,…,λn).The matrix X can be written in terms of an orthogonal/unitary transformation U
X=UΣVT,with UUT=I or UU†=I.
Not all square matrices are diagonalizable. A matrix like the one discussed above
X=[1−11−1]is not diagonalizable, it is a so-called defective matrix. It is easy to see that the condition XXT=XTX is not fulfilled.