matrix-vector product orthogonal on vector Given a matrix $A\in\mathrm R^{n\times n}$, what are the sufficient conditions on $A$ that
$v^*Av=0\Rightarrow Av=0$
holds for all $v\in\mathrm C^n\setminus 0$?
Clearly, it is necessary that either of the following holds:
$A$ is rank-deficient, for if $0$ is in the field of values of $A$, but $A$ has full rank, there exists a $v$ such that $Av\neq0$, but $v^*Av=0$.
The symmetric part of $A$ is positive definite.
But are they also sufficient?
 A: Let $A_S$ be the symmetric part of $A$, and $A_N$ the antisymmetric part.
Then your property holds if and only if $A_S$ is semidefinite, with $\operatorname{rank} A_S = \operatorname{rank} A$.
Lemma: If $A_S$ is semidefinite, $\ker A \subset \ker A_S$.
Suppose $Aw = 0$ for some vector $w$. Then $w^H A w = w^H A_S w = 0$, so since $A_S$ is semidefinite, $w \in \ker A_S$.
Now for the main result:


*

*Suppose $A_S$ is (positive or negative) semidefinite, $\operatorname{rank} A_S = \operatorname{rank} A$, and $v^H A v = 0$. By the lemma, $\ker A \subset \ker A_S$, and in fact $\ker A = \ker A_S$ since both matrices have the same rank. Then since $v^H A_S v = 0$ and $A_S$ is semidefinite, $A_Sv=0$ and so $Av=0$.

*Suppose $A_S$ is semidefinite but $\operatorname{rank} A_S \neq \operatorname{rank} A$. Then by the lemma, $\operatorname{rank} A_S < \operatorname{rank} A$, and there is a vector $v$ in the kernel of $A_S$ but not in the kernel of $A$. Immediately we have $v^HAv=0$ and $Av\neq 0$.

*Lastly, suppose $A_S$ is indefinite. Let $w_1, w_2$ be two unit eigenvectors of $A_S$ with eigenvalues $\lambda_1 > 0$ and $\lambda_2 < 0$, respectively.
Let $$v = \sqrt{-\lambda_2}w_1 + i\sqrt{\lambda_1}w_2.$$
Then
$$v^HAv = v^HA_Sv = -\lambda_1\lambda_2 + \lambda_1\lambda_2 = 0.$$
Moreover
\begin{align*}
w_1^HAv &= w_1^HA_Sv + w_1^H A_Nv\\
&= \lambda_1\sqrt{-\lambda_2} + i\sqrt{\lambda_1} w_1^H A_N w_2\\
&\neq 0,
\end{align*}
so $Av\neq 0$.
Interestingly, it seems the characterization of your property is much less simple when $v$ is restricted to be real, or $A$ is complex.
A: Original poster here. Looks like I've lost my cookie and can't accept your answer. I'm sorry. Is there any way to fix this (like reposting the question and then accepting your answer)?
I wonder what makes it so difficult to extend it to $v\in\mathbb R$.
