The spectral factorization problem for multivariable distributed parameter systems

This paper studies the solution of the spectral factorization problem for multivariable distributed parameter systems with an impulse response having an infinite number of delayed impulses. A coercivity criterion for the existence of an invertible spectral factor is given for the cases that the delays are a) arbitrary (not necessarily commensurate) and b) equally spaced (commensurate); for the latter case the criterion is applied to a system consisting of two para mission lines without distortion. In all cases, it is essentially shown that, under the given criterion, the spectral density matrix has a spectral factor whenever this is true for its singular atomic part, i.e. its series of delayed impulses (with almost periodic symbol). Finally, a small-gain type sufficient condition is studied for the existence of spectral factors with arbitrary delays. The latter condition is meaningful from the system theoretic point of view, since it guarantees feedback stability robustness with respect to small delays in the feedback loop, Moreover its proof contains constructive elements.