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A Floquet multiplier is an eigenvalue of a one-period linear evolution map. For a homogeneous linear differential equation with continuous coefficients of period $T>0$, this map is the monodromy matrix of a periodic linear system $N$. If $Nv=mv$ for a nonzero eigenvector $v$, the associated solution of a differential equation with $Y(0)=v$ satisfies $Y(t+T)=mY(t)$. Its exponential rate is $T^{-1}\log |m|$, the corresponding Floquet growth rate. A Floquet multiplier equal to one gives a $T$-periodic solution in that eigenvector direction; a nontrivial Jordan block at a unit-modulus Floquet multiplier can still produce polynomial growth.

For a nonlinear periodic orbit, the Floquet multipliers are eigenvalues of the one-period map of its variational equation. A nonconstant periodic orbit of a smooth autonomous differential equation has a Floquet multiplier equal to one in its tangent direction: differentiating the solution of a differential equation with respect to its starting phase gives a periodic solution of the variational equation. The derivative of a transverse Poincaré map removes this phase direction and retains the transverse Floquet multipliers. Transverse Floquet multipliers strictly inside the unit circle give local attraction, while one outside gives instability; a transverse Floquet multiplier on the unit circle requires further analysis. For a planar periodic orbit, the transverse Floquet multiplier is given by the divergence test for a planar periodic orbit.

For the homogeneous linear differential equation $\dot{Y}=K(t)Y$ with continuous coefficient matrix of period $P>0$, the monodromy matrix of a periodic linear system is the one-period map from $Y(0)$ to $Y(P)$. If $X$ is any fundamental matrix,Its eigenvalues are the Floquet multipliers. Multipliers are nonzero, since a fundamental matrix is invertible. Changing the starting phase conjugates $N$, so the Floquet multipliers and Jordan blocks are independent of that choice.^[ref]

This turns a continuous-time problem into repeated matrix multiplication:If $Nv=mv$, the associated solution of a differential equation obeys $Y(t+P)=mY(t)$ at every time, not merely at the sampled times. In particular, $Nv=v$ gives a nonzero $P$-periodic solution, and every nonzero $P$-periodic solution arises this way. If $Nv=-v$, the state changes sign after one period and repeats after two. A unit-modulus Floquet multiplier different from $1$ need not give repetition after one period, and a generalized eigenvector in a nontrivial Jordan block need not even give bounded motion.

For the scalar example under periodic solution, $N$ is the one-by-one matrix $(e^{2\pi a})$. Numerically solving a matrix problem uses the same idea: integrate one initial value problem for each column of $X(0)=I$ through one period, then compute the eigenvalues of $X(P)$. This is useful when an explicit solution of a differential equation is unavailable: one period determines the Floquet growth rate over arbitrarily many periods.

For piecewise constant coefficients, which are also covered by the one-period construction, $N$ is the time-ordered product of the segment matrix exponentials, with the earliest segment on the right. For example, take period $P=2$ and alternateSince $K_1^2=K_2^2=0$,Replacing the coefficient by its mean would instead give $e^{K_1+K_2}=\left(\begin{array}{cc}\cosh 1& \sinh 1\\ \sinh 1& \cosh 1\end{array}\right)$ and the incorrect rate $0.5$. The matrices do not commute. The scalar mean-coefficient formula therefore cannot simply be transferred to matrix systems. Nevertheless the Liouville formula for a fundamental matrix gives the correct determinant even in the noncommuting case:In the example, this is $1=m_{+}{m}_{-}$; it fixes the product of the Floquet multipliers, rather than either multiplier separately.

In Sur les équations différentielles linéaires à coefficients périodiques (1883), Gaston Floquet calls a function satisfying $f(t+P)=mf(t)$ periodic of the second kind, and distinguishes the genuinely periodic function obtained when $m=1$. This historical terminology captures precisely the difference between repetition of the coefficient and repetition of the state.^[ref]

A Parker dynamo wave is a traveling or oscillatory mode of a mean-field dynamo coupling poloidal and toroidal magnetic-field components through an alpha effect and shear. A reduced complex-amplitude model can represent fluctuating alpha by a time-dependent coupling. Its periodically switched growth must be calculated from the monodromy matrix of a periodic linear system, rather than by averaging noncommuting generators.

During the positive half-period, write $Y=(A,B{)}^T$ and $\dot{Y}=K_{+}Y$, with $K_{+}=\left(\begin{array}{cc}0& D^2\\ i& 0\end{array}\right)$. Then $K_{+}^2=i{D}^{2}I={\sigma }^{2}I$. Its two eigenvalues are $\pm \sigma$, and corresponding eigenvectors are $(\sigma ,i{)}^T$ and $(-\sigma ,i{)}^T$. Since $D>0$, they are independent. Thus the general half-period solution isUsing the even and odd terms in the matrix exponential, $e^{T{K}_{+}}=I\cosh (\sigma T)+(K_{+}/\sigma )\sinh (\sigma T)$. Because $D^2/\sigma =-i\sigma$, the fundamental matrix of a linear differential equation givesThe lower-left denominator is $\sigma$, as printed in the PDF. In the negative half-period $K_{-}=\left(\begin{array}{cc}0& -D^2\\ i& 0\end{array}\right)$ and $K_{-}^2=({\sigma }^{\ast }{)}^{2}I$. The analogous matrix exponential has the stated $M^{-}$, replacing $\sigma$ by its complex conjugate ${\sigma }^{\ast }=-i\sigma$. Both matrices satisfywith ${\sigma }^{\ast }$ in the second determinant. Equivalently, their generators have zero trace, so the determinant of each matrix exponential is one.

At each complete period the state is multiplied by the monodromy matrix of a periodic linear system $N=M^{-}{M}^{+}$, so $Y(2nT)=N^{n}Y(0)$. The determinant is therefore $\det N=1$. Let $c_{\pm }=\cosh ({\sigma }^{(\ast )}T)$ and $s_{\pm }=\sinh ({\sigma }^{(\ast )}T)$. Multiplying the two matrices and taking the trace givesThe ratio sum vanishes because the two ratios are $-i$ and $i$. With $x=\sqrt{2}DT$, the hyperbolic-function identity for $|\cosh (a+ia){|}^2$ consequently yieldsFor $x>0$, $F>2$: differentiating gives $F^{\prime }=\sinh x-\sin x>0$, since this derivative has derivative $\cosh x-\cos x>0$ and vanishes initially. The characteristic polynomial is ${\lambda }^2-F\lambda +1$. Hence the two Floquet multipliers are positive, distinct and reciprocal, with dominant multiplier and growth rateThe finite-time propagation within each half-period is bounded independently of the number of cycles, so it does not change this asymptotic Floquet growth rate. The expression is the maximal rate, attained for generic nonzero initial data. The exceptional initial state in the reciprocal multiplier's eigenspace decays with rate $-\gamma$; the zero state stays zero. Thus a vanishing mean alpha effect does not preclude dynamo action in this periodically switched Parker dynamo wave model.

As $x\to \infty$, $F=\frac{1}{2}{e}^x[1+O(e^{-x})]$, $\Lambda =F[1+O(F^{-2})]$, and $\log \Lambda =x-\log 2+o(1)$. ThereforeIn particular, at $T=1$ the rate is asymptotic to $(\sqrt{2}D-\log 2)/2$, as required. The growth calculation uses the product $M^{-}{M}^{+}$, rather than averaging the two generators: the two generators do not commute.

For $\dot{A}=D^{2}f(t)B$ and $\dot{B}=iA$, with $f$ alternating between $+1$ and $-1$ for intervals of length $T$, the monodromy matrix of a periodic linear system has determinant one and trace $\cosh (\sqrt{2}DT)+\cos (\sqrt{2}DT)>2$. Its reciprocal Floquet multipliers give positive dominant Floquet growth rate for $D,T>0$, despite the zero mean of $f$. An exceptional initial state in the stable eigenspace decays.