We study the joint probability density of the eigenvalues of a product of rectangular real, complex, or quaternion random matrices in a unified way. The random matrices are distributed according to arbitrary probability densities, whose only restriction is the invariance under left and right multiplication by orthogonal, unitary, or unitary symplectic matrices, respectively. We show that a product of rectangular matrices is statistically equivalent to a product of square matrices. Hereby we prove a weak commutation relation of the random matrices at finite matrix sizes, which previously has been discussed for infinite matrix size. Moreover, we derive the joint probability densities of the eigenvalues. To illustrate our results, we apply them to a product of random matrices drawn from Ginibre ensembles and Jacobi ensembles as well as a mixed version thereof. For these weights, we show that the product of complex random matrices yields a determinantal point process, while the real and quaternion matrix ensembles correspond to Pfaffian point processes. Our results are visualized by numerical simulations. Furthermore, we present an application to a transport on a closed, disordered chain coupled to a particle bath.

• Received 22 October 2013

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.89.032106