Contingent derivatives and regularization for noncoercive inverse problems

Abstract

We study the inverse problem of parameter identification in noncoercive variational problems that commonly appear in applied models. We examine the differentiability of the set-valued parameter-to-solution map using the first-order and the second-order contingent derivatives. We explore the inverse problem using the output least-squares and the modified output least-squares objectives. By regularizing the noncoercive variational problem, we obtain a single-valued regularized parameter-to-solution map and investigate its smoothness and boundedness. We also consider optimization problems using the output least-squares and the modified output least-squares objectives for the regularized variational problem. We give a complete convergence analysis showing that for the output least-squares and the modified output least-squares, the regularized minimization problems approximate the original optimization problems suitably. We also provide the first-order and the second-order adjoint method for the computation of the first-order and the second-order derivatives of the output least-squares objective. We provide discrete formulas for the gradient and the Hessian calculation and present numerical results.     

A variational approach for a generalized emden-fowler equation

Existence of positive solutions of singular boundary value problems related to Emden-Fowler equation is proved. A general minimization theorem in Sobolev spaces is applied.     

Utilization of inverse approach in the design of materials over nano‐ to macro‐scale

In the light of recent developments in computer technology, a promising and efficient way to design a material with a desired property would be to solve the inverse problem: use a physical property to predict structure. Here, we discuss the basic idea and mathematical foundation of the inverse approach, and proposed strategies for its utilization in the design of materials over nano‐ to macro‐scales. At the nano‐scale, analyzed strategies include scanning of a high‐dimensional space of chemical compounds for those compounds that have a targeted property, and identification of correlations in large databases of materials. However, unlike utilization of inverse approach at nano‐scale where full structural information ‐ atoms and their positions‐ is linked to targeted properties, at the meso‐ and macro‐scale, only partial structural information, manifested via structural motifs or representative volume elements, is available. We discuss the role of partial structural information in the inverse approach to the design of materials at those scales. Risks and limitations of the inverse approach are analyzed and dependence of the approach on factors such as structure parametrization, approximations in theoretical models, and feedback from structural characterization, is addressed.

     

Numerical estimation of the piecewise constant Robin coefficient by identifying its discontinuous points

We propose a new numerical method for estimating the piecewise constant Robin coefficient in two-dimensional elliptic equation from boundary measurements. The Robin inverse problem is recast into a minimization of an output least-square formulation. A technique based on determining the discontinuous points of the unknown coefficient is suggested, and we investigate the differentiability of the solution and the objective functional with respect to the discontinuous points. Then we apply the Gauss-Newton method for reconstructing the shape of the unknown Robin coefficient. Numerical examples illustrate its efficiency and stability.     

Phase unwrapping by accumulation of residual maps

We present a path independent (global) algorithm for phase unwrapping based on the minimisation of a robust cost function. The algorithm incorporates an outlier rejection mechanism making it robust to large inconsistencies and discontinuities. The proposal consists on an iterative incremental scheme that unwraps a sub-estimation of the residual phase at each iteration. The sub-estimation degree is controlled by an algorithm׳s parameter. We present an efficiently computational multigrid implementation based on a nested strategy: the process is iterated by using multiple resolutions. The proposal׳s performance is demonstrated by experiments with synthetic and real data, and successfully compared with algorithms of the state of the art.     

Magnetic Polymer Composite Particles Via In situ Inverse Miniemulsion Polymerization Process

We aimed at preparing magnetic iron oxide particles by the oxidation-precipitation method in order to encapsulate these particles in polymer matrices composed of poly(acrylamide-styrene sulfonic acid sodium salt). Nanocomposites were synthesized by the incorporation of surface treated magnetic nanoparticles in the synthesized polymers via in situ inverse mini-emulsion polymerization process. The study parameter was the ionic monomer content in the synthesized polymers. The structure and the morphology of the magnetic nanogels were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), dynamic light scattering (DLS), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). FTIR and XRD showed that pure magnetite was formed and successfully encapsulated in the composite nanoparticles. The polymer encapsulation could reduce the susceptibility to leaching and could protect the magnetite particle surfaces from oxidation. The ionic monomer content had a great effect on the magnetization behavior. Magnetite prepared by the oxidation precipitation method, of 50 nm mean particle size, was embedded successfully into the polymer nanogels with a reasonable magnetic response, as proved by vibrating sample magnetometer measurement. Magnetic nanocomposites were proven to be super-ferromagnetic materials.     

Nonlinear Schrödinger equation in a semi-strip: Evolution of the Weyl–Titchmarsh function and recovery of the initial condition and rectangular matrix solutions from the boundary conditions

Rectangular matrix solutions of the defocusing nonlinear Schrödinger equation (dNLS) are studied in quarter-plane and semi-strip. Evolution of the corresponding Weyl–Titchmarsh (Weyl) function is described in terms of the initial Weyl function and boundary conditions. In the next step, the initial Weyl function is recovered (for the quarter-plane case) from the long-time asymptotics of the wave function considered at the boundary. Thus, it is shown that the evolution of the Weyl function is uniquely defined by the boundary conditions. Moreover, a procedure to recover solutions of dNLS (uniquely defined by the boundary conditions) is given. In a somewhat different way, the same boundary value problem is also dealt with in a semi-strip (for the case of a quasi-analytic initial condition).