Maximum Power Transfer for Nonlinear State Space Systems

The classical Maximum Power Transfer theorem of linear electrical network theory is extended to general nonlinear state space systems connected to a source. This yields a state space version of the input-output operator results of [17]. Key tool in the analysis is the formulation of a Hamiltonian input-output system, which closely relates to Pontryagin's Minimum principle. The adjoint variational system incorporated in this system defines an optimal load. The structure of such an optimal load is investigated for two classes of physical systems.