Transformation of high order linear differential-algebraic systems to first order (Q857650)

The authors discuss the procedure of transforming systems of linear differential-algebraic equations of arbitrary order into a first order system. It is shown, through several examples, that this approach may lead to different solvability results and smoothness requirements. Some results concerning existence and uniqueness of solutions of differential-algebraic systems of arbitrary order and index are established. These results are used to identify exactly those variables for which the order reduction to first order does not lead to extra smoothness requirements. The effects of this new formulation is demonstrated through a numerical example.