Linear feedback, irreducibility, and M-matrices (Q5903871)

Let (L) \(x(t)=Ax(t)+Bu(t)\), \(t\geq 0\) where \(A\in R^{n\times n}\), \(B\in R^{n\times n}\) and u(\(\cdot)\) is a piecewise continuous \(R^ m\)-valued function. This class of admissible controls is denoted by \({\mathcal U}\). A nonempty set \(\Gamma \subset R^ n\) is called holdable (with respect to (L)) provided that for any initial state \(x_ 0\in \Gamma\) there exists a control function \(u\in {\mathcal U}\) such that \(x(t,x_ 0,u)\in \Gamma\) for all \(t\geq 0\). A state \(x_ 0\in R^ n\) is said to be controllable to a target set \(\Gamma \subseteq R^ n\) if there exist \(t\geq 0\) and \(u\in {\mathcal U}\) such that \(x(t,x_ 0,u)\in \Gamma\). The set of all points that are controllable to \(\Gamma\) is \[ X_{A,B}(\Gamma):=\cup_{t\geq 0}e^{-tA}\Gamma +\cup_{t\geq 0}\cup_{u\in {\mathcal U}}\int^{t}_{0}e^{-sA}Bu(s)ds. \] Let \({\mathcal V}_{A,B}:=\operatorname{Range}[B : AB : A^2 B : \dots : A^{n-1} B]\); then \(X_{A,B}(\Gamma)=\cup_{t\geq 0}e^{-tA}\Gamma +{\mathcal V}_{A,B}.\) In the paper under review the authors consider the following problem: (CT1) Characterize the set \(X_{A,B}(R^ n_+)\) when \(R^ n_+\) is holdable (where \(R^ n_+\) denotes the nonnegative orthant). They explain that this problem gives rise to the following problems in matrix theory (where \(A\in R^{n\times n}\) and \(B\in R^{n\times m}\) are given): (MT1) Find, if possible, a matrix F such that \(A+BF\) is essentially nonnegative. (MT2) Find, if possible, a matrix F such that \(A+BF\) is essentially nonnegative and irreducible. They also study the following control theoretic ``stabilizability - holdability'' problem: (CT2) Find, if possible, a linear feedback law \(u(t)=Fx(t)\) such that for any \(x_ 0\geq 0\) the application of this law results in \(x(t,x_ 0,u)\geq 0\), \(t\geq 0\) and \(x(t,x_ 0,u)\Rightarrow 0\) as \(t\Rightarrow \infty\). And they solve an equivalent problem in matrix theory (where \(A\in R^{n\times n}\), \(B\in R^{n\times m}\) are given): (MT3) Find, if possible, a matrix F such that \((A+BF)\) is a nonsingular M-matrix.