Kronecker Product of Tensors and Hypergraphs: Structure and Dynamics

SIAM Journal on Matrix Analysis and Applications, Volume 45, Issue 3, Page 1621-1642, September 2024.
Abstract. Hypergraphs and tensors extend classic graph and matrix theories to account for multiway relationships, which are ubiquitous in engineering, biological, and social systems. While the Kronecker product is a potent tool for analyzing the coupling of systems in a graph or matrix context, its utility in studying multiway interactions, such as those represented by tensors and hypergraphs, remains elusive. In this article, we present a comprehensive exploration of algebraic, structural, and spectral properties of the tensor Kronecker product. We express Tucker and tensor train decompositions and various tensor eigenvalues in terms of the tensor Kronecker product. Additionally, we utilize the tensor Kronecker product to form Kronecker hypergraphs, which are tensor-based hypergraph products, and investigate the structure and stability of polynomial dynamics on Kronecker hypergraphs. Finally, we provide numerical examples to demonstrate the utility of the tensor Kronecker product in computing Z-eigenvalues, performing various tensor decompositions, and determining the stability of polynomial systems.