A linear state observer exists for the system (A,B,C,D) if and only if (C,A) is Detectable. Furthermore, this observer is given by wĖ(t)x^(t)ā=(A+LC)w(t)+[āLāB+LDā][y(t)u(t)ā]=Iw(t)+[0ā0ā][y(t)u(t)ā]āor more simply x^Ė(t)=Ax^(t)+Bu(t)+L(Cx^(t)+Du(t)āy(t))where L is chosen s.t. A+LC is Hurwitz.