Necessary and Sufficient Conditions for Asymptotic Decoupling of Stable Modes in LTV Systems

For a linear time varying (LTV) system containing stable and unstable modes, this article gives the necessary and sufficient conditions for asymptotic decoupling of stable modes. Establishment of the conditions relies on newly developed techniques for analyzing matrix exponential and state transition matrix. The research exploits fundamental properties of LTV systems and advances the knowledge base of linear control theory. The results can find a direct application in the autonomous synchronization problem for heterogeneous multiagent systems. The research methodology is based on rigorous theoretical proofs and numerical verification.