Force traction microscopy: An inverse problem with pointwise observations

Force Traction Microscopy is an inversion method that allows to obtain the stress field applied by a living cell on the environment on the basis of a pointwise knowledge of the displacement produced by the cell itself. This classical biophysical problem, usually addressed in terms of Green functions, can be alternatively tackled using a variational framework and then a finite elements discretization. In such a case, a variation of the error functional under suitable regularization is operated in view of its minimization. This setting naturally suggests the introduction of a new equation, based on the adjoint operator of the elasticity problem. In this paper we illustrate the rigorous theory of the two-dimensional and three dimensional problem, involving in the former case a distributed control and in the latter case a surface control. The pointwise observations require to exploit the theory of elasticity extended to forcing terms that are Borel measure

Well-posedness via Monotonicity. An Overview

The idea of monotonicity (or positive-definiteness in the linear case) is shown to be the central theme of the solution theories associated with problems of mathematical physics. A "grand unified" setting is surveyed covering a comprehensive class of such problems. We elaborate the applicability of our scheme with a number examples. A brief discussion of stability and homogenization issues is also provided.Comment: Thoroughly revised version. Examples correcte

Unique Determination of Sound Speeds for Coupled Systems of Semi-linear Wave Equations

We consider coupled systems of semi-linear wave equations with different sound speeds on a finite time interval $[0,T]$ and a bounded Lipschitz domain $\Omega$ in $\mathbb{R}^3$, with boundary $\partial\Omega$. We show the coupled systems are well posed for variable coefficient sounds speeds and short times. Under the assumption of small initial data, we prove the source to solutions map on $[0,T]\times\partial\Omega$ associated with the nonlinear problem is sufficient to determine the source-to-solution map for the linear problem. We can then reconstruct the sound speeds in $\Omega$ for the coupled nonlinear wave equations under certain geometric assumptions. In the case of the full source to solution map in $\Omega\times[0,T]$ this reconstruction could also be accomplished under fewer geometric assumptions.Comment: minor update

The higher order regularity Dirichlet problem for elliptic systems in the upper-half space

We identify a large class of constant (complex) coefficient, second order elliptic systems for which the Dirichlet problem in the upper-half space with data in $L^p$-based Sobolev spaces, $1<p<\infty$, of arbitrary smoothness $\ell$, is well-posed in the class of functions whose nontangential maximal operator of their derivatives up to, and including, order $\ell$ is $L^p$-integrable. This class includes all scalar, complex coefficient elliptic operators of second order, as well as the Lam\'e system of elasticity, among others

Constraint interface preconditioning for topology optimization problems

The discretization of constrained nonlinear optimization problems arising in the field of topology optimization yields algebraic systems which are challenging to solve in practice, due to pathological ill-conditioning, strong nonlinearity and size. In this work we propose a methodology which brings together existing fast algorithms, namely, interior-point for the optimization problem and a novel substructuring domain decomposition method for the ensuing large-scale linear systems. The main contribution is the choice of interface preconditioner which allows for the acceleration of the domain decomposition method, leading to performance independent of problem size.Comment: To be published in SIAM J. Sci. Com

Null boundary controllability of a 1-dimensional heat equation with an internal point mass

We consider a linear hybrid system composed by two rods of equal length connected by a point mass. We show that the system is null controllable with Dirichlet and Neumann controls. The results are based on a careful spectral spectral analysis together with the moment method.Comment: 12 pages, typos corrected, added references, matches version to be submitted to Systems and Control Letter