Optimization with respect to order in a fractional diffusion model: analysis, approximation and algorithmic aspects (Q1632255)

An identification (inverse) problem, where the state \({\mathsf {u}}\) is governed by a fractional elliptic equation and the unknown variable corresponds to the order \(s \in (0,1)\) of the fractional power of the Dirichlet Laplace operator \(-\Delta\) is considered. The existence of an optimal pair \(({\bar{s}}, {{\bar{{\mathsf {u}}}}})\) is studied and some sufficient conditions for its local uniqueness are given. Semi-discrete and fully discrete algorithms as approximation to the identification problem are developed. A convergence analysis is dealt with these algorithms. Some numerical illustrations are presented to support the theoretical results.