Linear Algebra, Markov Chains, and Queueing Models

This IMA Volume in Mathematics and its Applications LINEAR ALGEBRA, MARKOV CHAINS, AND QUEUEING MODELS is based on the proceedings of a workshop which was an integral part of the 1991-92 IMA program on "Applied Linear Algebra". We thank Carl Meyer and R.J. Plemmons for editing the proceedings. We also take this opportunity to thank the National Science Founda­ tion, whose financial support made the workshop possible. A vner Friedman Willard Miller, Jr. xi PREFACE This volume contains some of the lectures given at the workshop Lin­ ear Algebra, Markov Chains, and Queueing Models held January 13-17, 1992, as part of the Year of Applied Linear Algebra at the Institute for Mathematics and its Applications. Markov chains and queueing models play an increasingly important role in the understanding of complex systems such as computer, communi­ cation, and transportation systems. Linear algebra is an indispensable tool in such research, and this volume collects a selection of important papers in this area. The articles contained herein are representative of the underlying purpose of the workshop, which was to bring together practitioners and re­ searchers from the areas of linear algebra, numerical analysis, and queueing theory who share a common interest of analyzing and solving finite state Markov chains. The papers in this volume are grouped into three major categories-perturbation theory and error analysis, iterative methods, and applications regarding queueing models.

Carl D. Meyer is Professor of Mathematics at North Carolina State University. His research interests include numerical and applied linear algebra; Markov chains and applied probability; and information retrieval, data mining, and web search. He is the author or co-author of six books.