Realization of continuous-time positive linear systems

Positive linear systems are used in biomathematics, economics, and other research areas. For discrete-time positive linear systems, part of the realization problem has been solved. In this paper the solution of the corresponding problem for continuous-time positive linear systems will be presented, which can be deduced from that of the discrete-time case by a transformation. Sufficient and necessary conditions for the existence of a positive realization are presented. To solve the problem of minimality, the solution of the factorization of positive matrices is needed.