Frequency Response of Feedback Systems

Consider the feedback composition with two LTI systems:

Assume the frequency response of S1 is H1, of S2 is H2, and of S is H. Then assume that

x = exp(i w t).

The output must be

y = H(w)x

Since this is itself a complex exponential, it must be true that

z = H2(w)y = H2(w)H(w)x

Hence

u = x - z = x - H2(w)H(w)x = (1 - H2(w)H(w))x

which is also a complex exponential. Since y = H1(w)u, it must be that

y = H1(w)(1 - H2(w)H(w))x

Since y = H(w)x,

H(w)x = H1(w)(1 - H2(w)H(w))x

Eliminate x and solve for H to get

H(w) = H1(w)/(1 - H2(w)H1(w))

when (1 - H2(w)H1(w)) is not zero. This gives the frequency response of the feedback system in terms of those of the component systems.