Common zero structure of rational matrix functions (Q1911525)

The common zero data of two square rational matrix functions (rmf) are studied, by using the recently developed theory of common multiples and divisors of several matrix functions. The notion of a common null pair is introduced and it is studied in the framework of null-pole triples and Sylvester data sets for rmf. This study allows to obtain some important results connected with divisibility. The main result of the paper is the description of the common null pair of two rmf in terms of their realizations. Some extensions and generalizations of the main result are presented, as well as a conjecture concerning the description of a common null pair of more than two rmf (a part of this conjecture is proved under more restrictive hypotheses). This study will be continued in some subsequent papers involving the concept of Bezoutian for rmf, relevant factorization problems, zero/pole localization problems and connections with linear and quadratic matrix equations.