A block bidiagonal form for block companion matrices (Q1078286)

Let \(L_ k(\lambda)=\lambda^ kI+\sum^{k-1}_{j=0}\lambda^ jA_ j\) be a matrix polynomial (so \(A_ 0,...,A_{k-1}\) are \(n\times n\) matrices with complex entries) with the companion matrix \[ C_ k = \left[\begin{matrix} 0&1&0&...&0 \\ 0&0&1&...&0 \\ \vdots&\vdots&\vdots&&\vdots \\ 0&0&0&...&1 \\ -A_ 0&-A1_ 1&&...&-A_{k-1} \end{matrix} \right]. \] The main result states that if \(L_ k(\lambda)\) admits a factorization \((1)\quad L_ k(\lambda)=(\lambda I-T_ 1)...(\lambda I-T_ k),\) then \(C_ k\) is similar to the matrix \[ K_ k= \left[\begin{matrix} T_ k &I&&&0 \\ &T_{k-1}&I \\ &&\ddots&\ddots \\ &&&T_ 2&I \\ 0&&&&T_ 1 \end{matrix}\right] . \] Under certain conditions the converse is true as well, i.e. if \(C_ k\) is similar to \(F_ k\), then \(L_ k(\lambda)\) admits the factorization (1). This result is subsequently applied to solution of system of differential and difference equation with constant coefficients.