Summary
In this paper, we derive stability margins for optimal and inverse optimal stochastic feedback regulators. Specifically, gain, sector, and disk margin guarantees are obtained for nonlinear stochastic dynamical systems controlled by nonlinear optimal and inverse optimal Hamilton‐Jacobi‐Bellman controllers that minimize a nonlinear‐nonquadratic performance criterion with cross‐weighting terms. Furthermore, using the newly developed notion of stochastic dissipativity, we derive a return difference inequality to provide connections between stochastic dissipativity and optimality of nonlinear controllers for stochastic dynamical systems. In particular, using extended Kalman‐Yakubovich‐Popov conditions characterizing stochastic dissipativity, we show that our optimal feedback control law satisfies a return difference inequality predicated on the infinitesimal generator of a controlled Markov diffusion process if and only if the controller is stochastically dissipative with respect to a specific quadratic supply rate.