Optimal synthesis in an infinite-dimensional space

For a class of optimal control problems and Hamiltonian systems generated by these problems in the space l ₂, we prove the existence of extremals with a countable number of switchings on a finite time interval. The optimal synthesis that we construct in the space l ₂ forms a fiber bundle with piecewise smooth two-dimensional fibers consisting of extremals with a countable number of switchings over an infinite-dimensional basis of singular extremals.     

Extremals with accumulation of switchings in an infinite-dimensional space

This paper studies a class of optimal control problems and the Hamiltonian systems generated by them in the space l ₂. The authors prove the existence of extremals with countably many switchings on a finite interval of time that compose a bundle with piecewise fibers over the base of singular extremals of condimension 4. Translated from Sovremennaya Matematika i Ee Prilozheniya (Contemporary Mathematics and Its Applications), Vol. 58, Optimal Control, 2008.     

Well-posed infinite horizon variational problems on a compact manifold

We give an effective sufficient condition for a variational problem with infinite horizon on a compact Riemannian manifold M to admit a smooth optimal synthesis, i.e., a smooth dynamical system on M whose positive semi-trajectories are solutions to the problem. To realize the synthesis, we construct an invariant Lagrangian submanifold (well-projected to M) of the flow of extremals in the cotangent bundle T*M. The construction uses the curvature of the flow in the cotangent bundle and some ideas of hyperbolic dynamics.     

Enclosure theorems for extremals of elliptic parametric functionals

In the following paper we study parametric functionals. First we introduce a generalized mean curvature (so called F-mean curvature). This enables us to describe extremals of parametric funcionals as surfaces of prescribed F-mean curvature. Furthermore we give a differential equation for arbitrary immersions generalizing and apply this equation to surfaces of vanishing and prescribed F-mean curvature. Especially we prove non-existence results for such surfaces generalizing Theorems by Hildebrandt and Dierkes [3], [6]. Received: 11 May 2001 / Accepted: 11 July 2001 / Published online: 12 October 2001     

An explicit procedure for discretizing continuous,optimal control problems

An explicit procedure for obtaining discrete approximations to general, nonlinear, fixed-time, continuous, optimal control problems with no intermediate trajectory constraints is presented. It is proved that, if the associated system of differential equations is linear in the control variable, then the optimal solutions of these approximationsconverge to extremals of the original continuous problem.     

Energy minimization of single input orbit transfer by averaging and continuation

This article deals with the transfer between Keplerian coplanar orbits using low propulsion. We focus on the energy minimization problem and compute the averaged system, proving integrability and relating the corresponding trajectories to a three-dimensional Riemannian problem that is analyzed in details. The geodesics provide approximations of the extremals of the energy minimization problem and can be used in order to evaluate the optimal trajectories of the time optimal and the minimization of the consumption problems with continuation methods. In particular, minimizing trajectories for transfer towards the geostationary orbit can be approximated in suitable coordinates by straight lines.     

Reeb foliation in the optimal control problem with phase constraints

An optimal control problem with two phase constraints and a two-dimensional control is considered. We prove that its optimal trajectories have a countable number of points of contact with the phase constraint bound on a finite time interval. The optimal synthesis of the problem after applying the quotient mapping by the action of the scale group has a complicated topological structure and, in some neighborhood of singular extremals, it is the Reeb foliation.     

Riemannian metric of the averaged energy minimization problem in orbital transfer with low thrust

This article deals with the optimal transfer of a satellite between Keplerian orbits using low propulsion and is based on preliminary results of Epenoy et al. (1997) where the optimal trajectories of the energy minimization problem are approximated using averaging techniques. The averaged Hamiltonian system is explicitly computed. It is related to a Riemannian problem whose distance is an approximation of the value function. The extremal curves are analyzed, proving that the system remains integrable in the coplanar case. It is also checked that the metric associated with coplanar transfers towards a circular orbit is flat. Smoothness of small Riemannian spheres ensures global optimality of the computed extremals.     

Local maximality of hyperbolic sets

Two properties of a hyperbolic set F are discussed: its local maximality and the property that, in any neighborhood U ⊃ F, there exists a locally maximal set F′ that contains F (we suggest calling the latter property local premaximality). Although both these properties of the set F are related to the behavior of trajectories outside F, it turns out that, in the class of hyperbolic sets, the presence or absence of these properties is determined by the interior dynamics on F.     

Degenerate abnormal trajectories in a sub-Riemannian problem with growth vector (2, 3, 5, 8)

We consider the nilpotent sub-Riemannian problem with growth vector (2, 3, 5, 8). We describe and study abnormal extremals orthogonal to the cube of the distribution. We analyze the geometric properties of a two-dimensional surface in the state space on which the corresponding abnormal trajectories define optimal synthesis.     

On some analogs of Sturm's and Kneser's theorems for nonlinear systems

Analogs of certain conjugate point properties in the calculus of variations are developed for optimal control problems. The main result in this direction is concerned with the characterization of a parameterized family of extremals going through the first backward conjugate point, t_c. A corollary of this result is that for the linear quadratic problem (LQP) there exists at least a one-parameter family of extremals going though the conjugate point which gives the same cost as the candidate extremal, i.e., the extremal control is optimal but nonunique on [t_c, t_f]. An analysis of the effect on the conjugate point of employing penalty functions for terminal equality constraints in the LQP is presented, also. It is shown that the sequence of approximate conjugate points is always conservative, and it converges to the conjugate point of the constrained problem. Furthermore, it is proved that the addition of terminal constraints has the effect of causing the conjugate point to move backward (or remain the same).     

A volume-preserving counterexample to the Seifert conjecture

We prove that every 3-manifold possesses aC ¹, volume-preserving flow with no fixed points and no closed trajectories. The main construction is a volume-preserving version of the Schweitzer plug. We also prove that every 3-manifold possesses a volume-preserving,C ^∞ flow with discrete closed trajectories and no fixed points (as well as a PL flow with the same geometry), which is needed for the first result. The proof uses a Dehn-twisted Wilson-type plug which also preserves volume. The author was supported by an NSF Postdoctoral Fellowship, grant #DMS-9107908.     

On the Extremal Rays of the Cone of Positive, Positive Definite Functions

The aim of this paper is to investigate the cone of non-negative, radial, positive-definite functions in the set of continuous functions on ℝ ^d . Elements of this cone admit a Choquet integral representation in terms of the extremals. The main feature of this article is to characterize some large classes of such extremals. In particular, we show that there are many other extremals than the Gaussians, thus disproving a conjecture of G. Choquet, and that no reasonable conjecture can be made on the full set of extremals. The last feature of this article is to show that many characterizations of positive definite functions available in the literature are actually particular cases of the Choquet integral representations we obtain.     

Existence and Uniqueness of F-Minimal Surfaces

We extend a classical result of Radó and Kneser concerning uniqueness ofminimal surfaces bounded by a given closed Jordan curve in³ to the case of extremals for certain geometric variationalintegrals. Using standard elliptic PDE theory, this gives the existenceand uniqueness of embedded F-minimal surfaces for suitable boundarycurves that project simply onto the boundary of a plane convex domain.     

Single Supplier Scheduling for Multiple Deliveries

The problem of scheduling the production and delivery of a supplier to feed the production of F manufacturers is studied. The orders fulfilled by the supplier are delivered to the manufacturers in batches of the same size. The supplier's production line has to be set up whenever it switches from processing an order of one manufacturer to an order of another manufacturer. The objective is to minimize the total setup cost, subject to maintaining continuous production for all manufacturers. The problem is proved to be NP-hard. It is reduced to a single machine scheduling problem with deadlines and jobs belonging to F part types. An O(NlogF) algorithm, where N is the number of delivery batches, is presented to find a feasible schedule. A dynamic programming algorithm with O(N ^F /F ^F–2) running time is presented to find an optimal schedule. If F=2 and setup costs are unit, an O(N) time algorithm is derived.     

Editorial Addresses

We study the existence and structure of extremals for one-dimensional variational problems on a torus and the properties of the minimal average action as a function of the rotation number. We show that, for a generic integrand f, the minimum of the minimal average action is attained at a rational point mn ^–1 where n1 and m are integers; also, for each initial value, there exists an (f)-weakly optimal solution over an infinite horizon.     

Planar Manhattan Locally Minimal and Critical Networks

One-dimensional branching extremals of Lagrangian-type functionals are considered. Such extremals appear as solutions to the classical Steiner problem on a shortest network, i.e., a connected system of paths that has the smallest total length among all the networks spanning a given finite set of terminal points in the plane. In the present paper, the Manhattan-length functional is investigated, with Lagrangian equal to the sum of the absolute values of projections of the velocity vector onto the coordinate axes. Such functionals are useful in problems arising in electronics, robotics, chip design, etc. In this case, in contrast to the case of the Steiner problem, local minimality does not imply extremality (however, each extreme network is locally minimal). A criterion of extremality is presented, which shows that the extremality with respect to the Manhattan-length functional is a global topological property of networks. Bibliography: 95 titles.     

On nonconvex perturbations of maximal monotone differential inclusions

The paper is concerned with the evolution inclusionxAx+F(t,x), whereA generates a contractive semigroup andF is a lower semicontinuous multifunction. Constructing a suitable directionally continuous selection fromF, we prove the existence of solutions on a closed domain and the connectedness of the set of trajectories.     

No optimal 1‐planar graph triangulates any nonorientable closed surface

Suzuki [Discrete Math. 310 (2010), 6–11] proved that for any orientable closed surface F² other than the sphere, there exists an optimal 1‐planar graph which can be embedded on F² as a triangulation. However, for nonorientable closed surfaces, the existence of such graphs is unknown. In this article, we prove that no optimal 1‐planar graph triangulates a nonorientable closed surface.     

Gibbs state for some class of meromorphic functions

This paper is a continuation of our earlier works [1,2] on the fractal structure of expanding and subexpanding meromorphic functions of the form F = H o exp o Q, where H and Q are non-constant rational maps. Under some assumptions on the forward trajectories of asymptotic values ofF we define a class of summable potentials for the maps f of the punctured cylinder induced by F. We prove the existence and uniqueness of Gibbs states for these potentials.