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Let $m,n$ be positive integers with $m \leqslant n$, and denote by $\mu_M$ the minimal polynomial of a matrix.

Do we know for which $m$ the set $E_m$ of $M \in \mathfrak{M}_n(\mathbb{R})$ such that $\deg(\mu_M) = m$ is connected?

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The answer is always yes. Indeed the set is path-connected.

Let $C(f)$ denote the companion matrix associated to the monic polynomial $f$. Every matrix $A$ is similar to a matrix in rational canonical form: $$B=C(f_1)\oplus C(f_1 f_2)\oplus\cdots\oplus C(f_1 f_2,\cdots f_k)$$ where here $\oplus$ denotes diagonal sum. Then $m$ is the degree of $f_1 f_2\cdots f_k$. Starting with $B$ deform each $f_i$ into a power of $x$. We get a path from $B$ to $$B'=C(x^{a_1})\oplus C(x^{a_2})\oplus\cdots\oplus C(x^{a_k})$$ inside $E_m$. There's a path from $B'$ in $E_m$ given by $$(1-t)C(x^{a_1})\oplus (1-t)C(x^{a_2})\oplus\cdots\oplus C(x^{a_k})$$ ending at $$B_m=O\oplus C(x^m).$$ Thus there is a path in $E_m$ from $A$ to $UB_mU^{-1}$ where $U$ is a nonsingular matrix. If $\det(U)\ne0$ then there is a path in $GL_n(\mathbf{R})$ from $U$ to $I$ and so a path in $E_m$ from $A$ to $B_m$. If $m< n$ then there is a matrix $V$ of negative determinant with $VB_m V^{-1}=B_m$ so that we may take $U$ to have positive determinant.

The only case that remains is when $m=n$. In this case $E_m$ contains diagonal matrices with distinct entries, and each of these commutes with a matrix of negative determinant.

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Nice one, thanks Robin. –  Portland Apr 25 '10 at 20:02

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