Block power method for computing solvents and spectral factors of matrix polynomials

This paper is concerned with the extension of the power method, used for finding the largest eigenvalue and associated eigenvector of a matrix, to its block from for computing the largest block eigenvalue and associated block eigenvector of a non-symmetric matrix. Based on the developed block power method, several algorithms are developed for solving the complete set of solvents and spectral factors of a matrix polynomial, without prior knowledge of the latent roots of the matrix polynomial. Moreover, when any right/left solvent of a matrix polynomial is given, the proposed method can be used to determine the corresponding left/right solvent such that both right and left solvents have the same eigenspectra. The matrix polynomial of interest must have distinct block solvents and a corresponding non-singular polynomial matrix. The established algorithms can be applied in the analysis and/or design of systems described by high-degree vector differential equations and/or matrix fraction descriptions.