Conjugate times and regularity of the minimum time function with differential inclusions

This paper studies the regularity of the minimum time function, $T(\cdot)$, for a control system with a general closed target, taking the state equation in the form of a differential inclusion. Our first result is a sensitivity relation which guarantees the propagation of the proximal subdifferential of $T$ along any optimal trajectory. Then, we obtain the local $C^2$ regularity of the minimum time function along optimal trajectories by using such a relation to exclude the presence of conjugate times

Well-posedness for a class of nonlinear degenerate parabolic equations

In this paper we obtain well-posedness for a class of semilinear weakly degenerate reaction-diffusion systems with Robin boundary conditions. This result is obtained through a Gagliardo-Nirenberg interpolation inequality and some embedding results for weighted Sobolev spaces

Indirect stabilization of weakly coupled systems with hybrid boundary conditions

We investigate stability properties of indirectly damped systems of evolution equations in Hilbert spaces, under new compatibility assumptions. We prove polynomial decay for the energy of solutions and optimize our results by interpolation techniques, obtaining a full range of power-like decay rates. In particular, we give explicit estimates with respect to the initial data. We discuss several applications to hyperbolic systems with {\em hybrid} boundary conditions, including the coupling of two wave equations subject to Dirichlet and Robin type boundary conditions, respectively

A nonhomogeneous boundary value problem in mass transfer theory

We prove a uniqueness result of solutions for a system of PDEs of Monge-Kantorovich type arising in problems of mass transfer theory. The results are obtained under very mild regularity assumptions both on the reference set $\Omega\subset\mathbf{R}^n$, and on the (possibly asymmetric) norm defined in $\Omega$. In the special case when $\Omega$ is endowed with the Euclidean metric, our results provide a complete description of the stationary solutions to the tray table problem in granular matter theory.Comment: 22 pages, 2 figure

Representation of equilibrium solutions to the table problem for growing sandpiles

In the dynamical theory of granular matter the so-called table problem consists in studying the evolution of a heap of matter poured continuously onto a bounded domain Omega subset of R-2. The mathematical description of the table problem, at an equilibrium configuration, can be reduced to a boundary value problem for a system of partial differential equations. The analysis of such a system, also connected with other mathematical models such as the Monge-Kantorovich problem, is the object of this paper. Our main result is an integral representation formula for the solution, in terms of the boundary curvature and of the normal distance to the cut locus of Omega

A stability result for a class of nonlinear integrodifferential equations with L1 kernels

We study the generation of analytic semigroups in the L-2 topology by second order elliptic operators in divergence form, that may degenerate at the boundary of the space domain. Our results, that hold in two space dimensions, guarantee that the solutions of the corresponding evolution problems support integration by parts. So, this paper provides the basis for deriving Carleman type estimates for degenerate parabolic operators

Semiconcavity of the value function for a class of differential inclusions

We provide intrinsic sufficient conditions on a multifunction F and endpoint data phi so that the value function associated to the Mayer problem is semiconcave

Some Characterizations of Optimal Trajectories in Control Theory

The authors provide several characterizations of optimal trajectories for the classical Meyer problem arising in optimal control. For this purpose they study the regularity of directional derivatives of the value function: for instance it is shown that for smooth control systems the value function V is continuously differentiable along an optimal trajectory x. Then they deduce the upper semicontinuity of the optimal feedback map and address the problem of optimal design, obtaining sufficient conditions for optimality. Finally it is shown that the optimal control problem may be reduced to a viability problem

Value Functions and Optimality Conditions for Semilinear Control Problems. II: Parabolic Case

In this paper the authors study properties of the value function and of optimal solutions of a semilinear Mayer problem in infinite dimensions. Applications concern systems governed by a state equation of parabolic type. In particular, the issues of the joint Lipschitz continuity and semiconcavity of the value function are treated in order to investigate the differentiability of the value function along optimal trajectories

Regularity properties of attainable sets under state constraints

The Maximum principle in control theory provides necessary optimality conditions for a given trajectory in terms of the co-state, which is the solution of a suitable adjoint system. For constrained problems the adjoint system contains a measure supported at the boundary of the constraint set. In this paper we give a representation formula for such a measure for smooth constraint sets and nice Hamiltonians. As an application, we obtain a perimeter estimate for constrained attainable sets