Dynamics of piecewise linear maps and sets of nonnegative matrices (Q1030713)

The theory of nonnegative matrices has been very well developed since its appearance in papers of Perron and Frobenius. The classical Perron-Frobenius theorem shows that a nonnegative matrix has a nonnegative eigenvector associated with its spectral radius, and if the matrix is irreducible then this nonnegative eigenvector can be chosen strictly positive. Many generalizations of the Perron-Frobenius theory involve homogeneous monotone functions, especially functions of the form \[ g_K(x)=\max_{A\in K}Ax, \] where \(K\) is a finite set of square nonnegative matrices of fixed dimension and by ``max'' we mean component-wise maximum. The author considers maps of similar form, but with``minimum'' instead of ``maximum'': \[ f_K(x)=\min_{A\in K}Ax. \] He transfers known results about properties of \(g_K\) to \(f_K\). In particular he shows existence of nonnegative generalized eigenvectors of \(f_K\), gives necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of a strictly positive eigenvector of \(f_K\), and studies dynamics of \(f_K\) on the positive cone. He also shows the existence and constructs matrices \(A\) and \(B\), possibly not in \(K\), such that \(f_K^n(v)\sim A^nv\) and \(g_K^n(v)\sim B^nv\) for any strictly positive vector \(v\).