Inverse eigenvalue problems for damped vibrating systems (Q1098979)

Damped vibrating systems are governed by differential equations of the form \(A\ddot q+B\dot q+Cq=0,\) with an n-vector function q and \(n\times n\)-matrices A, B, C, where A is positive definite and B, C are nonnegative. The behaviour of the solutions is intimately connected with the algebraic (spectral) properties of the selfadjoint matrix polynomial \(L(\lambda)=A\lambda^ 2+B\lambda +C\). On the other hand, if all spectral properties of L(\(\lambda)\) are known, the matrices A, B, C can be expressed in terms of them. The following problems are studied: Given a set of numbers (candidates for Jordan chains), under what conditions do these data determine (1) a unique matrix polynomial, (2) a matrix polynomial with real coefficients, (3) a matrix polynomial with Hermitian coefficients, (4) a matrix polynomial with real symmetric coefficients.