In mathematics, the Markus–Yamabe conjecture is a conjecture on global asymptotic stability. If the Jacobian matrix of a dynamical system at a fixed point is Hurwitz, then the fixed point is asymptotically stable. Markus-Yamabe conjecture asks if a similar result holds globally. Precisely, the conjecture states that if a continuously differentiable map on an ${\displaystyle n}$-dimensional real vector space has a fixed point, and its Jacobian matrix is everywhere Hurwitz, then the fixed point is globally stable.

The conjecture is true for the two-dimensional case. However, counterexamples have been constructed in higher dimensions. Hence, in the two-dimensional case only, it can also be referred to as the Markus–Yamabe theorem.

Related mathematical results concerning global asymptotic stability, which are applicable in dimensions higher than two, include various autonomous convergence theorems. Analog of the conjecture for nonlinear control system with scalar nonlinearity is known as Kalman's conjecture.

Mathematical statement of conjecture

Let ${\displaystyle f:\mathbb {R} ^{n}\rightarrow \mathbb {R} ^{n}}$ be a ${\displaystyle C^{1}}$ map with ${\displaystyle f(0)=0}$ and Jacobian ${\displaystyle Df(x)}$ which is Hurwitz stable for every ${\displaystyle x\in \mathbb {R} ^{n}}$.

Then ${\displaystyle 0}$ is a global attractor of the dynamical system ${\displaystyle {\dot {x}}=f(x)}$.

The conjecture is true for ${\displaystyle n=2}$ and false in general for ${\displaystyle n>2}$.

References

• Markus, Lawrence; Yamabe, Hidehiko (1960). "Global Stability Criteria for Differential Systems". Osaka Mathematical Journal. 12 (2): 305–317.
• Meisters, Gary (1996). "A Biography of the Markus–Yamabe Conjecture" (PDF). Retrieved October 20, 2023.
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• Feßler, Robert (1995). "A proof of the two-dimensional Markus–Yamabe stability conjecture and a generalisation". Annales Polonici Mathematici. 62: 45–74. doi:10.4064/ap-62-1-45-74.
• Cima, Anna; van den Essen, Arno; Gasull, Armengol; Hubbers, Engelbert; Mañosas, Francesc (1997). "A Polynomial Counterexample to the Markus–Yamabe Conjecture". Advances in Mathematics. 131 (2): 453–457. doi:10.1006/aima.1997.1673. hdl:2066/112453.
• Bernat, Josep; Llibre, Jaume (1996). "Counterexample to Kalman and Markus–Yamabe Conjectures in dimension larger than 3". Dynamics of Continuous, Discrete & Impulsive Systems. 2 (3): 337–379.
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