Coupled linear operators (Q1120805)

The authors consider the simultaneous solution of a coupled pair of linear operator equations. Such systems are abstract representations of various problems in control theory and linear boundary value problems. Necessary and sufficient conditions are given for a solution of the coupled system to exist and a general form for solutions, in terms of certain algebraic generalized inverse operators, is provided. A family of generalized inverses for the product operator is introduced and the member of this family which is the Moore-Penrose generalized inverse is characterized. The results are related to work of Minamide and Nakamura on the constrained minimization problem.