A Generalisation of the Secant Criterion

Abstract: The cyclic feedback interconnection of $n$ subsystems is the basic building block of control theory. Many robust stability tools have been developed for this interconnection. Two notable examples are the small gain theorem and the Secant Criterion. Both of these conditions guarantee stability if an inequality involving the geometric mean of a set of subsystem indices is satisfied. The indices in each case are designed to capture different core properties; gain in the case of the small gain theorem, and the degree of output-strict-passivity in the Secant Criterion. In this paper we identify entire families of other suitable indices based on mappings of the unit disk. This unifies the small gain theorem and the Secant Criterion, as well as a range of other stability criteria, into a single condition.