An inverse polynomial method for the identification of the leading coefficient in the Sturm-Liouville operator from boundary measurements. (Q1406273)

The leading coefficient of the Sturm-Liouville operator \[ Lu= (k(x) u'(x))+ q(x) u,\quad x\in [0,1], \] is estimated in terms of boundary measurements (i) \(k(x) u'(x,k)|_{x=0}= \alpha\), \(u(x,k)|_{x=1}= \beta\), \(k(x) u'(x,k)|_{x=1}= \phi\), where \(u(x,k)\) is the solution of the boundary problem (ii) \(Lu= f\), \(x\in [0,1]\), \(u(0)= 0\), \(k(1) u'(1)= \phi\), \(\phi\in \mathbb{R}\). In (i), (ii), \(c_1\geq k\geq c_2> 0\), \(c_3\geq q\geq c_4> 0\), \(k\in C[0,1]\) \(q,f\in C^0[0,1]\). The estimate involves fitting \(u(x)\) with piecewise polynomials and some knowledge of \(u'(x)\), \(u''(x)\) on \((0,1)\) is required. The case \(u'(x)\neq 0\), \(u''(x)\neq 0\), was considered in an earlier paper [\textit{A. Hasanov} and \textit{Z. Seyidmamedov}, ibid. 125, 23--34 (2002; Zbl 1033.65059)]. Here it is assumed that either, for some \(x_0\in (0,1)\), (iii) \(u'(x_0)= 0\), \(u''(x_0)\neq 0\) and \(u'(x)\neq 0\), \(u''(x)\neq 0\), \(x\neq x_0\) or (iv) \(u'(x_0)= 0\), \(u''(x_0)= 0\), \(u'(x)\neq 0\), \(u''(x)\neq 0\), \(x\neq x_0\). The results are illustrated by four examples which include estimates made from noise free and noisy data.