Time optimal boundary controls for the heat equation

The fact that the time optimal controls for parabolic equations have the bang–bang property has been recently proved for controls distributed inside the considered domain (interior control). The main result in this article asserts that the boundary controls for the heat equation have the same property, at least in rectangular domains. This result is proved by combining methods from traditionally distinct fields: the Lebeau–Robbiano strategy for null controllability and estimates of the controllability cost in small time for parabolic systems, on one side, and a Remez-type inequality for Müntz spaces and a generalization of Turán?s inequality, on the other side.     

A Nash Type Result for Divergence Parabolic Equation Related to Hörmander's Vector Fields

In this paper we consider the divergence parabolic equation with bounded and measurable coefficients related to Hörmander's vector fields and establish a Nash type result, i.e., the local Hölder regularity for weak solutions. After deriving the parabolic Sobolev inequality, (1,1) type Poincaré inequality of Hörmander's vector fields and a De Giorgi type Lemma, the Hölder regularity of weak solutions to the equation is proved based on the estimates of oscillations of solutions and the isomorphism between parabolic Campanato space and parabolic Hölder space. As a consequence, we give the Harnack inequality of weak solutions by showing an extension property of positivity for functions in the De Giorgi class.     

Nulle contrôlabilité régionale d'une équation de type Crocco linéariséeRegional null controllability of a linearized Crocco type equation

We are interested in controllability problems of equations coming from a boundary layer model. This problem is described by a degenerate parabolic equation (a linearized Crocco type equation) where phenomena of diffusion and transport are coupled.First we give a geometric characterization of the influence domain of a locally distributed control. Then we prove regional null controllability results on this domain. The proof is based on an adequate observability inequality for the homogeneous adjoint problem. This inequality is obtained by decomposition of the space–time domain and Carleman type estimates along characteristics. To cite this article: P. Martinez et al., C. R. Acad. Sci. Paris, Ser. I 334 (2002) 581–584.     

L2,μ(Q)-estimates for Parabolic Equations and Applications

In this paper we derive a priori estimates in the Campanato space L^{2,\mu}(Q_T) for solutions of tbe following parabolic equation u_t - \frac{∂}{∂x_i}(a_{ij}(x,t)u_x_j+a_iu) + b_iu_x_i + cu = \frac{∂}{∂_x_i}f_i + f_0 where {a_{ij}(x, t)} are assumed to be measurable and satisfy the ellipticity condition. The proof is based on accurate DeGiorgi-Nash-Moser's estimate and a modified Poincare's inequality. These estimates are very useful in the study of the regularity of solutions for some nonlinear problems. As a concrete example, we obtain the classical solvability for a strongly coupled parabolic system arising from the thermistor problem.     

Bang-bang property for time optimal control of semilinear heat equation

This paper studies the bang-bang property for time optimal controls governed by semilinear heat equation in a bounded domain with control acting locally in a subset. Also, we present the null controllability cost for semilinear heat equation and an observability estimate from a positive measurable set in time for the linear heat equation with potential.     

Controllability results for a class of one-dimensional degenerate parabolic problems in nondivergence form

We give null controllability results for some degenerate parabolic equations in non divergence form on a bounded interval. In particular, the coefficient of the second order term degenerates at the extreme points of the domain. For this reason, we obtain an observability inequality for the adjoint problem. Then we prove Carleman estimates for such a problem. Finally, in a standard way, we deduce null controllability also for semilinear equations.      

Insensitizing controls for a forward stochastic heat equation

The existence of insensitizing controls for a forward stochastic heat equation is considered. To develop the duality, we obtain observability estimates for linear forward and backward coupled stochastic heat equations with general coefficients, by means of some global Carleman estimates. Furthermore, the constant in the observability inequality is estimated by an explicit function of the norm of the involved coefficients in the equation. As far as we know, our paper is the first one to address the problem of insensitizing controls for stochastic partial differential equations.     

A Kalman rank condition for the localized distributed controllability of a class of linear parabolic systems

We present a generalization of the Kalman rank condition to the case of n × n linear parabolic systems with constant coefficients and diagonalizable diffusion matrix. To reach the result, we are led to prove a global Carleman estimate for the solutions of a scalar 2n-order parabolic equation and deduce from it an observability inequality for our adjoint system. G.-B. Manuel was supported by D.G.E.S. (Spain), grant MTM2006-07932.     

Numerical analysis for generalized Forchheimer flows of slightly compressible fluids

In this article, we will consider the generalized Forchheimer flows for slightly compressible fluids. Using Muskat's and Ward's general form of Forchheimer equations, we describe the fluid dynamics by a nonlinear degenerate parabolic equation for density. The long‐time numerical approximation of the nonlinear degenerate parabolic equation with time dependent boundary conditions is studied. The stability for all time is established in a continuous time scheme and a discrete backward Euler scheme. A Gronwall's inequality‐type is used to study the asymptotic behavior of the solution. Error estimates for the solution are derived for both continuous and discrete time procedures. Numerical experiments confirm the theoretical analysis regarding convergence rates.     

Null controllability for the parabolic equation with a complex principal part

The paper is devoted to a study of the null controllability for the semilinear parabolic equation with a complex principal part. For this purpose, we establish a key weighted identity for partial differential operators (with real functions α and β), by which we develop a universal approach, based on global Carleman estimate, to deduce not only the desired explicit observability estimate for the linearized complex Ginzburg-Landau equation, but also all the known controllability/observability results for the parabolic, hyperbolic, Schrödinger and plate equations that are derived via Carleman estimates.     

Exact controllability of thermoelastic plate equation with memory

In this paper, we consider exact control problem for a coupled system of plate with Gurtin‐Pipkin equation. Using duality arguments, the problem is reduced to the obtention of suitable observability estimates for the dual system. Firstly, we obtain the observability inequality of the dual system by means of multiplier method. Then, we prove that the system is exactly controllable based on the Hilbert Unique Method.     

Null controllability of degenerate parabolic equations

Motivated by a boundary layer problem, we are interested in the controllability properties of parabolic equations degenerating at the boundary of the space domain. We derive new Carleman estimates for a class of degenerate parabolic equation; the proof is based in particular on Hardytype inequalities. Then we deduce observability and null controllability results. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Contrôlabilité à zéro avec contraintes sur le contrôle

We study a problem of null-controllability for the parabolic heat equation with linear constraints on the control. The main tool used to solve the problem of existence and convergence is an observability inequality of Carleman type, which is ‘adapted’ to the constraints. We then apply the obtained results to the sentinels theory of Lions. To cite this article: O. Nakoulima, C. R. Acad. Sci. Paris, Ser. I 339 (2004).     

Polynomial decay and control of a 1−d hyperbolic-parabolic coupled system

In this paper we consider a linearized model for fluid-structure interaction in one space dimension. The domain where the system evolves consists in two parts in which the wave and heat equations evolve, respectively, with transmission conditions at the interface. First of all we develop a careful spectral asymptotic analysis on high frequencies for the underlying semigroup. It is shown that the semigroup governed by the system can be split into a parabolic and a hyperbolic projection. The dissipative mechanism of the system in the domain where the heat equation holds produces a slow decay of the hyperbolic component of solutions. According to this analysis we obtain sharp polynomial decay rates for the whole energy of smooth solutions. Next, we discuss the problem of null-controllability of the system when the control acts on the boundary of the domain where the heat equation holds. The key observability inequality of the dual system with observation on the heat component is derived though a new Ingham-type inequality, which in turn, thanks to our spectral analysis, is a consequence of a known observability inequality of the same system but with observation on the wave component.     

Carleman Estimates for the Schr(o)dinger Equation and Applications to an Inverse Problem and an Observability Inequality

The authors prove Carleman estimates for the Schr(o)dinger equation in Sobolev spaces of negative orders,and use these estimates to prove the uniqueness in the inverse problem of determining Lp-potentials.An L2-1evel observability inequality and unique continuation results for the Schr(o)dinger equation are also obtained.     

Harnack inequality and exponential separation for oblique derivative problems on Lipschitz domains

We consider the oblique derivative problem for linear nonautonomous second order parabolic equations with bounded measurable coefficients on bounded Lipschitz cylinders. We derive an optimal elliptic-type Harnack inequality for positive solutions of this problem and use it to show that each positive solution exponentially dominates any solution which changes sign for all times. We show several nontrivial applications of both the exponential estimate and the derived Harnack inequality.     

Observability Inequality for the Kirchhoff-Rayleigh Plate Like Equation in a Short Time

In this paper, for any given observation time and suitable moving observation domains, the author establishes a sharp observability inequality for the Kirchhoff-Rayleigh plate like equation with a suitable potential in any space dimension. The approach is based on a delicate energy estimate. Moreover, the observability constant is estimated by means of an explicit function of the norm of the coefficient involved in the equation.     

Carleman Estimates for the Schrdinger Equation and Applications to an Inverse Problem and an Observability Inequality

The authors prove Carleman estimates for the Schrdinger equation in Sobolev spaces of negative orders, and use these estimates to prove the uniqueness in the inverse problem of determining Lp-potentials. An L2-level observability inequality and unique continuation results for the Schrdinger equation are also obtained.     

Logarithmic stability estimates for an inverse source problem from interior measurements

This paper deals with an inverse monopolar source problem for the Poisson equation, from interior measurements, whose motivation lies in the sea water intrusion phenomenon. Global logarithmic stability estimates of locations and intensities for monopolar sources in this equation are established. To do that, we make an appropriate choice of a test function allowing to show a stability estimate with respect to boundary conditions and then we use an observability inequality for Laplace equation to control it by the interior measurements. This reveals, on the one hand, the distance between the source and on the other hand the gap between the associated measures.     

Optimal control for distributed linear systems subjected to null-controllability

In this article, we apply the notion of hierarchic control on a distributed system in which the state is governed by a parabolic equation. This notion assumes that we have two controls where one will be the Leader and the other, the Follower. The first control is of controllability type subjected to a constraint, while the second expresses that the state does not move too far from a given state. The results are achieved by means of an observability inequality of the Carleman type, which is ‘adapted’ to the constraint.