Max-linear Systems: Theory and Algorithms (Springer Monographs in Mathematics)

Recent years have seen a significant rise of interest in max-linear theory and techniques. Specialised international conferences and seminars or special sessions devoted to max-algebra have been organised. This book aims to provide a first detailed and self-contained account of linear-algebraic aspects of max-algebra for general (that is both irreducible and reducible) matrices. Among the main features of the book is the presentation of the fundamental max-algebraic theory (Chapters 1-4), often scattered in research articles, reports and theses, in one place in a comprehensive and unified form . This presentation is made with all proofs and in full generality (that is for both irreducible and reducible matrices). Another feature is the presence of advanced material (Chapters 5-10), most of which has not appeared in a book before and in many cases has not been published at all.Intended for a wide-ranging readership, this book will be useful for anyone with basic mathematical knowledge (including undergraduate students) who wish to learn fundamental max-algebraic ideas and techniques. It will also be useful for researchers working in tropical geometry or idempotent analysis.