Max-algebraic attraction cones of nonnegative irreducible matrices

AbstractIt is known that the max-algebraic powers Ar of a nonnegative irreducible matrix are ultimately periodic. This leads to the concept of attraction cone Attr(A, t), by which we mean the solution set of a two-sided system λt(A)Ar⊗x=Ar+t⊗x, where r is any integer after the periodicity transient T(A) and λ(A) is the maximum cycle geometric mean of A. A question which this paper answers, is how to describe Attr(A,t) by a concise system of equations without knowing T(A). This study requires knowledge of certain structures and symmetries of periodic max-algebraic powers, which are also described. We also consider extremals of attraction cones in a special case, and address the complexity of computing the coefficients of the system which describes attraction cone