The determination of a coefficient in an elliptic equation from average flux data (Q1919508)

The question of recovering the coefficient \(q\) from the problem \[ -\Delta u_j+q(x)u_j=f_j(x),\quad x\in \Omega\subset \mathbb{R}^2,\quad u_j=0,\quad x\in\partial\Omega,\quad j=1,2,\dots, \] where the source terms \(\{f_j(x)\}^\infty_{j=1}\) form a basis in \(L^2(\Omega)\) is considered. It is proven that the flux data \(\{\int_\Gamma(\partial u_j/\partial\nu)ds\}^\infty_{j=1}\), where \(\Gamma\) is a connected subset of the boundary \(\partial\Omega\) uniquely determines \(q\geq0\). Continuity results for the inverse of the map taking the function \(q\) to the average flux data are also established. Moreover, a quasi-Newton algorithm for the approximation of \(q\) from finite data is given and some numerical results are presented.