Logarithmically completely monotonic rational functions

This paper studies the class of logarithmically completely monotonic (LCM) functions. These functions play an important role in characterizing externally positive linear systems which find applications in important control problems such as non-overshooting reference tracking. Conditions are proposed to ensure a rational function is LCM, a result that enables the known space of linear continuous-time externally positive systems to be enlarged and an efficient and optimal pole-placement procedure for the monotonic tracking controller synthesis problem to be developed. The presented conditions are shown to be less conservative than existing approaches whilst being computationally tractable.