Polynomial decay rate for the dissipative wave equation (Q996240)

The purpose of the paper is a study of the stabilization of the wave equation with a localized linear dissipation in a three-dimensional bounded domain having a trapped ray. The energy decay rates for the damped wave equation are investigated. One constructs a geometry with a trapped ray first. Under certain assumptions regarding initial conditions and for the obtained geometry one proves a polynomial decay rate for the damped wave equation. Already classical methods for hyperbolic systems are used. The strategy remembers the way observability estimates (control theory) are obtained for the wave equation.