Linear Lyapunov Functions for Nonlinear Compartmental Systems

This technical note examines exponential stability of the null solution to a large class of compartmental systems governed by ordinary differential equations. Sufficient conditions under which these systems admit a linear Lyapunov function are provided. The coefficients of the Lyapunov functions and the exponential decay rate they yield are obtained from an eigenvalue problem. For a special case of the system class considered, we derive an equivalence between attractivity of the null solution and the existence of a linear Lyapunov function.