Maximum inverse positive matrices (Q2463927)

The class of maximum inverse positive (MIP) matrices is considered. A real square matrix \(A\) is an MIP if it is inverse positive and for any positive matrix \(P\), \(A+P\) is no longer inverse positive. Some existence and nonexistence results for MIP matrices are given. The main existence theorem states that if \(B\) is an irreducible nonnegative matrix of order \(n\geq3\) and all its principal submatrices of order \(n-1\) are irreducible and have the same spectral radii \(s\), then \(A=-sI+B\) is an MIP matrix (and all the diagonal entries of \(A^{-1}\) are zero). It is also shown that no MIP matrices of order 2 exist. Finally it is observed that there is no minimum inverse positive matrix.