 Maximal-order Runge-Kutta methods are A-stable

An $s$-stage Runge-Kutta method has stability function $R(z)=1+z{b}^T(I-zA{)}^{-1}1$, a rational function with numerator and denominator degrees at most $s$. Order $2s$ forces $R(z)-e^z=O(z^{2s+1})$, so uniqueness of the diagonal Padé approximant identifies $R$ with $[s/s{]}_{e^z}$. That approximant has no poles in the closed left half-plane and modulus at most one there. Hence every such maximal-order method is A-stable. Since the Padé approximant numerator and denominator are coprime and both have degree $s$, the original stage determinant cannot have hidden canceled poles in that half-plane.