Null controllability with constraints on the state for the semilinear heat equation (Q846935)

The article is devoted to a null controllability problem for the semilinear heat equation with finite number of constraints on the state. The problem is considered in a bounded open set and the control is in the right hand of the heat equation. The main result of the paper is that the null controllability problem with constraints on the state has a solution. Besides an estimate for control choice is obtained. The proof is based on using a Carleman inequality adapted to the constraints and a fixed-point method. To use a fixed-point argument the authors analyze the linearized system associated to the null controllability problem with constraints on the state and interpreting each constraint by means of adjoint state notion, transform the linearized problem into an equivalent linear problem of null controllability with constraint on the control. Then they solve the equivalent problem and prove the main result.