May 18 – 22, 2026
Virginia Tech
America/New_York timezone

Combinatorial characterization of matrix algebras over finite fields

May 18, 2026, 4:10 PM
25m
Goodwin Hall 135 (Virginia Tech)

Goodwin Hall 135

Virginia Tech

Minisymposium Talk Combinatorial Matrix Theory Combinatorial Matrix Theory

Speaker

Nik Stopar (University of Ljubljana)

Description

In this talk we demonstrate how a matrix algebra over a finite field can be completely described using combinatorial properties. The main tool that allows one to do this is the compressed zero-divisor graph of a ring, which describes pairs of matrices $A$ and $B$ such that $AB=0$. We list a set of $5$ combinatorial axioms that uniquely determine the compressed zero-divisor graph $\Theta(M_n(\mathbb{F}))$ of the matrix algebra $M_n(\mathbb{F})$, where $|\mathbb{F}|=p^m$. Furthermore, the structure of this graph uniquely determines the ring $M_n(\mathbb{F})$ itself up to isomorphism. We also discuss some properties of the compressed zero-divisor graphs that may be useful for investigating subalgebras of $M_n(\mathbb{F})$ and individual matrices.

Author

Nik Stopar (University of Ljubljana)

Co-authors

Alen Đurić (University of Banja Luka) Sara Koljančić (University of Banja Luka)

Presentation materials

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