Selection of a single uniquely specifiable \(\mathcal H_{\infty}\) controller in the chain-scattering framework (Q1888417)

The authors consider the following normalized \({\mathcal H}_\infty\) control problem. Given some rational \({\mathcal L}_\infty\) plant \(P=\left[\begin{matrix} P_{11} & P_{12}\cr P_{21} & P_{22}\end{matrix} \right]\) with block sizes \((m+q)\times (r+p)\), find a controller \(K\) such that the closed-loop transfer function \(T_{zw}={\mathcal F}_l(P,K)\) satisfies \(\| T_{zw}\| _\infty <1\), where \({\mathcal F}_l(P,K):=P_{11}+P_{12}K(I-P_{22}K)^{-1}P_{21}\). By applying the chain-scattering transform \(G:=\text{ CHAIN}(P)=\left[\begin{matrix} P_{12}-P_{11}P_{21}^{-1}P_{22} & P_{11}P_{21}^{-1}\cr -P_{21}^{-1}P_{22} & P_{21}^{-1} \end{matrix}\right]\) one obtains the representation of \(T_{zw}\) as the homographic transformation \(T_{zw}={\text{ HM}}(G,K):=(G_{11}K+G_{12})(G_{21}K+G_{22})^{-1}\). A theorem of \textit{H. Kimura} [Chain-scattering approach to \(H^ \infty\) control. Systems and Control: Foundations and Applications. (Boston: Birkhäuser). (1997; Zbl 0862.93001)] reduces the normalized \({\mathcal H}_\infty\)-control problem with certain rank assumptions on \(P\) to \((J_{mr},J_{pr})\)-lossless factorization problem (here \(J_{mr}=\text{ diag}(I_m,-I_r)\)): \(G=\Theta\Pi\) where \(\Theta\) is \((J_{mr},J_{pr})\)-lossless, and \(\Pi\) is unimodular and has the form \(\Pi=\left[\begin{matrix} P_{a} & 0\cr P_{b1} & P_{b2} \end{matrix}\right]\) with block sizes \(((p+q)+(r-q))\times ((p+q)+(r-q))\). In that case, \(K=\text{ HM}(\Pi_{a}^{-1},S)\) for a rational \(S\) with \(\| S\| <1\). A controller \(K\) resulting from the choice \(S=0\) is termed a central controller obtained through the chain-scattering framework. \(\Pi\) and \(\Pi_a\) are unique up to left multiplication by a constant \(J\)-unitary real matrix. The authors give conditions which enforce uniqueness of \(K_c=\text{ HM}(\Pi_a^{-1},0)\), and also necessary and sufficient conditions when such a unique central controller in the chain-scattering framework exists. Moreover, in this case \(K_c\) coincides with the minimum-entropy controller known in the literature (see, e.g., [\textit{D. Mustafa} and \textit{K. Glover}, Minimum entropy \(H_{\infty}\) control. (English) Lecture Notes in Control and Information Sciences, 146. (Berlin etc.: Springer-Verlag). (1990; Zbl 0707.93014)]). For the minimum entropy problem the authors refer to works of Mustafa and Glover of late 1980s and early 1990s. The reviewer remarks that the earlier papers on the minimum entropy problem \textit{D. Z. Arov} and \textit{M. G. Krein} [Funct. Anal. Appl. 15, 123-126 (1981); translation from Funkts. Anal. Prilozh. 15, No.2, 61-64 (1981; Zbl 0484.46060)], and [Acta Sci. Math. 45, 33-50 (1983; Zbl 0556.47013)], and the pioneer paper \textit{D. Z. Arov} [Zap. Meh.-Mat. Fak. Harkov. Gos. Univ. i Harkov. Mat. Obšč. (4) 30, 48-69 (1964)]. (MR 0213507) on a computation of entropy should be mentioned as well.