Integrality of matrices, finiteness of matrix semigroups, and dynamics of linear and additive cellular automata

Abstract: Let $\mathbb{K}$ be a finite commutative ring, and let $\mathbb{L}$ be a commutative $\mathbb{K}$-algebra. Let $A$ and $B$ be two $n \times n$-matrices over $\mathbb{L}$ that have the same characteristic polynomial. The main result of this paper states that the set $\left{ A^0,A^1,A^2,\ldots\right}$ is finite if and only if the set $\left{ B^0,B^1,B^2,\ldots\right}$ is finite. We apply this result to Cellular Automata (CA). Indeed, it gives a complete and easy-to-check characterization of sensitivity to initial conditions and equicontinuity for linear CA over the alphabet $\mathbb{K}^n$ for $\mathbb{K} = \mathbb{Z}/m\mathbb{Z}$ i.e., CA in which the local rule is defined by $n\times n$-matrices with elements in $\mathbb{Z}/m\mathbb{Z}$. To prove our main result, we derive an integrality criterion for matrices that is likely of independent interest. Namely, let $\mathbb{K}$ be any commutative ring (not necessarily finite), and let $\mathbb{L}$ be a commutative $\mathbb{K}$-algebra. Consider any $n \times n$-matrix $A$ over $\mathbb{L}$. Then, $A \in \mathbb{L}^{n \times n}$ is integral over $\mathbb{K}$ (that is, there exists a monic polynomial $f \in \mathbb{K}\left[t\right]$ satisfying $f\left(A\right) = 0$) if and only if all coefficients of the characteristic polynomial of $A$ are integral over $\mathbb{K}$. The proof of this fact relies on a strategic use of exterior powers (a trick pioneered by Gert Almkvist). Furthermore, we extend the decidability result concerning sensitivity and equicontinuity to the wider class of additive CA over a finite abelian group. For such CA, we also prove the decidability of injectivity, surjectivity, topological transitivity and all the properties (as, for instance, ergodicity) that are equivalent to the latter.