Navier-Stokes equations: controllability by means of low modes forcing (Q1773120)

The paper studies controllability problems of the 2- and 3-dimensional Navier-Stokes equation. The equation is described in the torus \(\mathbb{T}^2\) or \(\mathbb{T}^3\), and has state \(u\) with incompressibility condition: \(\nabla\cdot u= 0\). Let \({\mathcal K}^1\) and \({\mathcal K}^{obs}\) be finite subsets of indices in \(\mathbb{Z}^j\), \(j= 2, 3\) such that \({\mathcal K}^1\subsetneq{\mathcal K}^{obs}\). The control enters the equation in the form: \(\sum_{k\in{\mathcal K}^1} v_k(t)e^{ik\cdot x}\), where the ``actuators'' \(e^{ik\cdot x}\) denote the eigenfunctions of the Laplacian \(\Delta\) in \(\mathbb{T}^2\) or \(\mathbb{T}^3\). In this sense the control is degenerate. The equation is decomposed into three sub-equations, corresponding to the sets of indices: \({\mathcal K}^1\), \({\mathcal K}^{obs}\) and \(\mathbb{Z}^j\setminus{\mathcal K}^{obs}\). The last sub-equation is dissipative, and free from the control. Thus the controllability problem is focussed on the former two nonlinear sub-equations of finite dimension. By introducing the differential geometric/Lie algebraic method to these sub-systems, controllability in various senses, such as global controllability in a Galerkin approximation and \(L_2\)-approximate controllability, is discussed.