How to check D-stability: a simple determinantal test

Abstract

The concept of matrix $D$-stability, introduced in 1958 by Arrow and McManus is of major importance due to the variety of its applications. However, characterization of matrix $D$-stability for dimensions $n > 4$ is considered as a hard open problem. In this paper, we propose a simple way for testing matrix $D$-stability, in terms of the inequalities between principal minors of a matrix. The conditions are just sufficient but they allow to test matrices of an arbitrary size $n$, are easy to verify and can be used for the analysis of parameter-dependent models.