Functional Calculi, Positivity, and Convolution of Matrices

Abstract

Convolution admits a natural formulation as a functional operation on matrices. Motivated by the functional and entrywise calculi, this leads to a framework in which convolution defines a matrix transform that preserves positivity. Within this setting, we establish results parallel to the classical theories of P\'olya--Szeg\H{o}, Schoenberg, Rudin, Loewner, and Horn in the context of entrywise calculus. The structure of our transform is governed by a Cayley--Hamilton-type theory valid in commutative rings of characteristic zero, together with a novel polynomial-matrix identity specific to convolution. Beyond these analytic aspects, we uncover an intrinsic connection between convolution and the Bruhat order on the symmetric group, illuminating the combinatorial aspect of this functional operation. This work extends the classical theory of entrywise positivity preservers and operator monotone functions into the convolutional setting.