Similarity between two distributed parameter systems (Q6995508)

This paper revisits abstract evolutionary distributed parameter systems of first order through the lens of similarity. It explores how to determine the similarity between two systems described by evolution equations using a suitable cost functional. The aim is to define a homeomorphic mapping to relate the two systems. Since this is not possible in general, the authors also introduce a similarity degree to characterize the distance between two systems. To this end, the authors investigate the existence of a minimizer for the similarity degree and establish necessary conditions for this minimizer. They prove the existence of a minimizer under strong continuous semi-group and smoothness conditions, and give necessary conditions, similar to the Pontryagin maximum principle, for the minimizer's existence.\N\NThe authors also discuss applications to various types of parabolic systems, including linear parabolic systems with Dirichlet boundary conditions, periodic parabolic systems, and general quasilinear parabolic systems. The findings suggest that different thermal diffusion processes will converge to the same steady state over time, illustrating the asymptotic similarity of quasi-linear parabolic systems.