Non-gaussian non-hermitian random matrix theory: Phase transition and addition formalism

We apply the recently introduced method of hermitization to study in the large N limit non-hermitian random matrices that are drawn from a large class of circularly symmetric non-gaussian probability distributions, thus extending the recent gaussian non-hermitian literature. We develop the general formalism for calculating the Green function and averaged density of eigenvalues, which may be thought of as the non-hermitian analog of the method due to Brèzin, Itzykson, Parisi and Zuber for analyzing hermitian non-gaussian random matrices. We obtain an explicit algebraic equation for the integrated density of eigenvalues. A somewhat surprising result of that equation is that the shape of the eigenvalue distribution in the complex plane is either a disk or an annulus. As a concrete example, we analyze the quartic ensemble and study the phase transition from a disk shaped eigenvalue distribution to an annular distribution. Finally, we apply the method of hermitization to develop the addition formalism for free non-hermitian random variables. We use this formalism to state and prove a non-abelian non-hermitian version of the central limit theorem.