Uniqueness Criteria for the Adjoint Equation in State-Constrained Elliptic Optimal Control

The article considers linear elliptic equations with regular Borel measures as inhomogeneity. Such equations frequently appear in state-constrained optimal control problems. By a counter example of Serrin 18 J. Serrin ( 1964 ). Pathological solutions of elliptic differential equations . Ann. Scuola Norm. Sup. Pisa Cl. Sci. 18 : 385 – 388 . Google Scholar]], it is known that, in the presence of non-smooth data, a standard weak formulation does not ensure uniqueness for such equations. Therefore several notions of solution have been developed that guarantee uniqueness. In this note, we compare different definitions of solutions, namely the ones of Stampacchia 19 G. Stampacchia ( 1965 ). Le probléme de Dirichlet pour les équations elliptiques du second ordre à coéffcients discontinus . Ann. Inst. Fourier 15 : 189 – 258 .Crossref] , Google Scholar]] and Boccardo-Galouët 4 L. Boccardo and T. Gallouët ( 1989 ). Nonlinear elliptic and parabolic equations involving measure data . J. Func. Anal. 87 : 149 – 169 .Crossref], Web of Science ®] , Google Scholar]] and the two notions of solutions of 2 J.-J. Alibert and J.-P. Raymond ( 1997 ). Boundary control of semilinear elliptic equations with discontinuous leading coefficients and unbounded controls . Numer. Func. Anal. Optim. 18 : 235 – 250 .Taylor &; Francis Online], Web of Science ®] , Google Scholar], 7 E. Casas (1993). Boundary control of semilinear elliptic equations with pointwise state constraints. SIAM J. Control Optim. 31:993–1006.Crossref], Web of Science ®] , Google Scholar]], and show that they are equivalent. As side results, we reformulate the solution in the sense of 19 G. Stampacchia ( 1965 ). Le probléme de Dirichlet pour les équations elliptiques du second ordre à coéffcients discontinus . Ann. Inst. Fourier 15 : 189 – 258 .Crossref] , Google Scholar]], and prove the existence of solutions in the sense of 2 J.-J. Alibert and J.-P. Raymond ( 1997 ). Boundary control of semilinear elliptic equations with discontinuous leading coefficients and unbounded controls . Numer. Func. Anal. Optim. 18 : 235 – 250 .Taylor &; Francis Online], Web of Science ®] , Google Scholar], 4 L. Boccardo and T. Gallouët ( 1989 ). Nonlinear elliptic and parabolic equations involving measure data . J. Func. Anal. 87 : 149 – 169 .Crossref], Web of Science ®] , Google Scholar], 7 E. Casas (1993). Boundary control of semilinear elliptic equations with pointwise state constraints. SIAM J. Control Optim. 31:993–1006.Crossref], Web of Science ®] , Google Scholar]] in case of mixed boundary conditions.