Matrix-valued \(L^1\)-optimal controls in the coefficients of linear elliptic problems (Q380260)

Based on quotes from the authors' introduction: The aim of this work is to study the existence of optimal controls in the matrix-valued coefficients associated with a linear elliptic equation and mixed boundary condition of the form \[ \text{-div}(A(x)\nabla{y})=f \quad\text{in} \quad\Omega, \] \[ y=0 \quad\text{on}\quad \Gamma_D, \] \[ \frac{\partial{y}}{\partial\nu_A}=g \quad\text{on}\quad \Gamma_N, \] where \(f\in L^2(\Omega)\) and \(g\in L^2(\Gamma_N)\) are given functions, the boundary of \(\Omega\) consists of two disjoint parts \(\partial\Omega=\Gamma_D\cup\Gamma_N\), and \(A\) is a measurable positive-semidefinite square symmetric matrix on a bounded open domain \(\Omega\) in \(\mathbb R^N\). The controls are taken as the coefficient matrix in the main part of the elliptic operator. The most important feature of such controls is the fact that eigenvalues of the matrix \(A\) may either vanish on subsets with zero Lebesgue measure or be unbounded. In this case the precise answer for the question of existence or non-existence of optimal solutions heavily depends on the class of admissible controls chosen. Using the direct method in the Calculus of variations, the authors discuss the solvability of the optimal control problem in a class of weak admissible solutions.