On the Mahler Measure of Matrix Pencils

It is well-known that determining the Mahler measure is important in networked control systems. Indeed, this measure allows one to derive stabilizability conditions in such systems. This paper investigates the Mahler measure in networked control systems linearly affected by a single uncertain parameter constrained into an interval, i.e. systems described by a matrix pencil. It is shown that conditions for establishing an upper bound of the largest Mahler measure over the matrix pencil can be formulated through linear matrix inequalities (LMIs). In particular, two LMI conditions are proposed, one based on the construction of a parameter-dependent Lyapunov function, and another based on eigenvalue analysis through the determinants of augmented matrices. The proposed LMI conditions have the advantage to be exact, i.e. they are sufficient for any size of the LMIs and they are also necessary for a certain size of the LMIs which is known a priori.