Iterative building of Barabanov norms and computation of the joint spectral radius for matrix sets∗

The problem of construction of Barabanov norms for analysis of properties of the joint (generalized) spectral radius of matrix sets has been discussed in a number of publications. In [16, 17] the method of Barabanov norms was the key instrument in disproving the Lagarias-Wang Finiteness Conjecture. The related constructions were essentially based on the study of the geometrical properties of the unit balls of some specific Barabanov norms. In this context the situation when one fails to find among current publications any detailed analysis of the geometrical properties of the unit balls of Barabanov norms looks a bit paradoxical. Partially this is explained by the fact that Barabanov norms are defined nonconstructively, by an implicit procedure. So, even in simplest cases it is very difficult to visualize the shape of their unit balls. The present work may be treated as the first step to make up this deficiency. In the paper two iteration procedure are considered that allow to build numerically Barabanov norms for the irreducible matrix sets and simultaneously to compute the joint spectral radius of these sets. PACS number 02.10.Ud; 02.10.Yn; 02.60.Dc MSC 2000: 15A18; 15A60; 65F15