Stability radii for linear time-varying differential-algebraic equations with respect to dynamic perturbations (Q860748)

The authors consider time-varying linear differential-algebraic equations (DAEs) of the form \[ E(t)x'(t) = A(t)x(t) + p(x(\cdot))(t),\quad t\geq 0, \] where \(E(\cdot)\) and \(A(\cdot)\) are locally bounded matrix functions of appropriate dimensions and \(p\) is a structured perturbation. The latter has the form \(p(x(\cdot))(t)=B(t)\Delta(C(\cdot)x(\cdot))(t)\), where \(B(\cdot)\) and \(C(\cdot)\) are bounded matrix functions and \(\Delta\) is a linear, dynamic and causal operator. It is assumed throughout the paper that the DAE has tractability index one which -- roughly speaking -- means that the derivative of the perturbation does not appear in the solution formula. The paper generalizes results for the stability radius of ordinary differential equations (ODEs). The stability radius measures how robust a given system is with respect to structured perturbation, i.e.\ how big a worst case perturbation can be until the perturbed system gets unstable. Compared to the formula of the stability radius for ODEs an additional term appears which is due to the needed preservation of the index one property. The results are formulated with respect to a special decomposition of the nominal DAE. This decomposition is based on certain projectors and it needs the assumption that the kernel of \(E(\cdot)\) is absolutely continuous. Finally, some special cases are considered which give some nice insight in the behaviour of the stability radius for DAEs. The paper is well written and mathematically sound.