hide
Free keywords:
-
Abstract:
The Floquet stability of systems of differential equations with piecewise constant periodic coefficients is considered. In the "two-step" case the monodromy matrix is the product of two matrix exponentials. It can be evaluated either by reducing the matrix exponentials to polynomials on the eigenvalues of the corresponding matrices or, without knowledge of the eigenvalues, by using the Baker-Campbell-Hausdorff formula. The two methods are discussed and applied to several examples including the "two-step" dissipative Hill's equation introduced recently H. Tasso, G.N. Throumoulopoulos [Phys. Plasmas 9 (2002) 2662] to stabilize the "resistive wall mode" in magnetically confined plasmas. Application to large systems and matrices is not only possible but needed for the full understanding of the dynamic stabilization of the resistive wall mode. Its practical implementation is discussed. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
