An inverse problem of ocean acoustics (Q2724862)

The author considers the problem of recovering the refraction coefficient \(n:[0,1]\to {\mathbb R}\) in the following Schrödinger equation with a fixed positive \(k\): NEWLINE\[NEWLINE \Delta u(x_1,x_2,z) + k^2n(z)u(x_1,x_2,z) = - {\delta(r)\over 2\pi r}\delta(z-1),\qquad (x_1,x_2)\in {\mathbb R}^2,\;z\in [0,1]. \tag{1}NEWLINE\]NEWLINE The function \(u\) is required to satisfy the boundary conditions NEWLINE\[NEWLINE u(x_1,x_2,0)=D_zu(x_1,x_2,1)=0,\qquad (x_1,x_2)\in {\mathbb R}^2, \tag{2}NEWLINE\]NEWLINE as well as the additional condition NEWLINE\[NEWLINE u(x_1,x_2,1)=g(x_1,x_2),\qquad (x_1,x_2)\in {\mathbb R}^2, \tag{3}NEWLINE\]NEWLINE where \(g:{\mathbb R}^2\to {\mathbb R}\) is a (measured) function, the additional information. NEWLINENEWLINENEWLINESince the solution to (1), (2) has a cylindrical symmetry, as the author shows, the same property must, of course, be enjoyed by the datum \(g\). NEWLINENEWLINENEWLINEThe author proves, by a combined use of Fourier transforms and spectral theory, that problem (1)--(3) admits at most one solution \(n\), and provides an algorithm to compute it.