This paper presents a complete solution for the optimum linear system which operates on

stationary and correlated random processes so as to minimize error variance in filtering or prediction. A simple closed-form answer results if the matrix

of spectra of the input signals can be factored such that

where

and

represent matrices of stable transforms in the Laplace variables. A general factoring procedure for rational matrices is presented.

can be viewed as the system which would reproduce signals with the spectrum of

when excited by

uncorrelated unit-density white-noise sources. In the case of a multidimensional filter, when

is separated by partial fractions into two terms,

, having 1hp poles from the signal and noise spectra, respectively, the optimum unity-feedback filter is shown to have a forward-loop transference of

.