The necessary and sufficient conditions of copositive tensors

Abstract: In this paper, it is proved that (strict) copositivity of a symmetric tensor $\mathcal{A}$ is equivalent to the fact that every principal sub-tensor of $\mathcal{A}$ has no a (non-positive) negative $H^{++}$-eigenvalue. The necessary and sufficient conditions are also given in terms of the $Z^{++}$-eigenvalue of the principal sub-tensor of the given tensor. This presents a method of testing (strict) copositivity of a symmetric tensor by means of the lower dimensional tensors. Also the equivalent definition of strictly copositive tensors is given on entire space $\mathbb{R}^n$.