A structural form for higher-index semistate equations. I: Theory and applications to circuit and control theory (Q1102234)

This paper investigates the theoretical properties of a structural form for higher-index, linear time-varying semistate systems. The systems are in the form \(x'=A(t)x+B(t)u+f_ 1(t)\), \(0=C(t)x+D(t)u+f_ 2(t)\), where D(t) is singular but has constant rank for all t in [0,T]. The form discussed includes some circuits with differentiators and linear- quadratic regulator problems with higher-order singular arcs. The systems are characterized by a block upper Hessenberg A(t), a zero pattern in C(t) and B(t), and an invertibility condition on the components of C, B, and the subdiagonal blocks of A(t). The results have applications both to the understanding of analytic solutions and the convergence of such numerical methods as backward differentiation formulas.