The regulator problem for parabolic equations with Dirichlet boundary control. II: Galerkin approximation (Q1107103)

Part II of the paper is a direct continuation of part I [see the authors, ibid. 16, 147-168 (1987; Zbl 0639.49002)] and is concerned with the feedback solution for the parabolic optimal control problem with control in Dirichlet boundary conditions. In part I this feedback was constructed using the operator Riccati equation. In part II the problem is discretized in the space variables using the Galerkin approximation. In this way it is approximated by optimal control problems described by O.D.E.'s and depending on the discretization parameter. The solutions to these problems are obtained in feedback form using algebraic Riccati equations. It is shown that semigroups associated with the approximating problems are analytic and exponentially stable, uniformly with respect to the discretization parameter. Using this result the convergence of the approximating optimal controls and Riccati operators to those for the original problem is proved. Finally, it is shown that the feedback solution obtained by applying the discrete regulator to the original dynamics is convergent to the optimal one.