Sums of nilpotent matrices

Abstract

We study matrices over general rings which are sums of nilpotent matrices. We show that over commutative rings all matrices with nilpotent trace are sums of three nilpotent matrices. We characterize 2-by-2 matrices with integer entries which are sums of two nilpotents via the solvability of a quadratic Diophantine equation. Some exemples in the case of matrices over noncommutative rings are given.