arXiv subjects

Piermarco Cannarsa

Publications and source records attributed to Piermarco Cannarsa.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

arXiv2017

Regularity results for the minimum time function with Hörmander vector fields

In a bounded domain of $\mathbb{R}^n$ with smooth boundary, we study the regularity of the viscosity solution, $T$, of the Dirichlet problem for the eikonal equation associated with a family of smooth vector fields $\{X_1,\ldots ,X_N\}$, subject to Hörmander's bracket generating condition. Due to the presence of characteristic boundary points, singular trajectories may occur in this case. We characterize such trajectories as the closed set of all points at which the solution loses point-wise Lipschitz continuity. We then prove that the local Lipschitz continuity of $T$, the local semiconcavity of $T$, and the absence of singular trajectories are equivalent properties. Finally, we show that the last condition is satisfied when the characteristic set of $\{X_1,\ldots ,X_N\}$ is a symplectic manifold. We apply our results to Heisenberg's and Martinet's vector fields.

math.OC↗

arXiv2016

Generalized characteristics and Lax-Oleinik operators: global theory

For autonomous Tonelli systems on $\R^n$, we develop an intrinsic proof of the existence of generalized characteristics using sup-convolutions. This approach, together with convexity estimates for the fundamental solution, leads to new results such as the global propagation of singularities along generalized characteristics.

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arXiv2016

Micromotions and controllability of a swimming model in an incompressible fluid governed by 2D or 3D Navier--Stokes equations

We study the local controllability properties of 2D and 3D bio-mimetic swimmers employing the change of their geometric shape to propel themselves in an incompressible fluid described by Navier-Stokes equations. It is assumed that swimmers' bodies consist of finitely many parts, identified with the fluid they occupy, that are subsequently linked by the rotational and elastic internal forces. These forces are explicitly described and serve as the means to affect the geometric configuration of swimmers' bodies. Similar models were previously investigated in [6]-[13].

math.AP↗

arXiv2015

The cost of controlling degenerate parabolic equations by boundary controls

We consider the one-dimensional degenerate parabolic equation $$ u_t - (x^αu_x)_x =0 \qquad x\in(0,1),\ t \in (0,T) ,$$ controlled by a boundary force acting at the degeneracy point $x=0$. First we study the reachable targets at some given time $T$ using $H^1$ controls, extending the moment method developed by Fattorini and Russell to this class of degenerate equations. Then we investigate the controllability cost to drive an initial condition to rest, deriving optimal bounds with respect to $α$ and deducing that the cost blows up as $α\to 1^-$.

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arXiv2015

Multiplicative controllability for semilinear reaction-diffusion equations with finitely many changes of sign

We study the global approximate controllability properties of a one dimensional semilinear reaction-diffusion equation governed via the coefficient of the reaction term. It is assumed that both the initial and target states admit no more than finitely many changes of sign. Our goal is to show that any target state $ u^*\in H_0^1 (0,1)$, with as many changes of sign in the same order as the given initial data $ u_0\in H^1_0(0,1)$, can be approximately reached in the $ L^2 (0,1)$-norm at some time $T>0$. Our method employs shifting the points of sign change by making use of a finite sequence of initial-value pure diffusion problems.

math.AP↗

arXiv2015

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.

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arXiv2015

Control and stabilization of degenerate wave equations

We study a wave equation in one space dimension with a general diffusion coefficient which degenerates on part of the boundary. Degeneracy is measured by a real parameter $μ_a>0$. We establish observability inequalities for weakly (when $μ_a \in [0,1[$) as well as strongly (when $μ_a \in [1,2[$) degenerate equations. We also prove a negative result when the diffusion coefficient degenerates too violently (i.e. when $μ_a>2$) and the blow-up of the observability time when $μ_a$ converges to $2$ from below. Thus, using the HUM method we deduce the exact controllability of the corresponding degenerate control problem when $μ_a \in [0,2[$. We conclude the paper by studying the boundary stabilization of the degenerate linearly damped wave equation and show that a suitable boundary feedback stabilizes the system exponentially. We extend this stability analysis to the degenerate nonlinearly boundary damped wave equation, for an arbitrarily growing nonlinear feedback close to the origin. This analysis proves that the degeneracy does not affect the optimal energy decay rates at large time. We apply the optimal-weight convexity method of \cite{alaamo2005, alajde2010} together with the results of the previous section, to perform this stability analysis.

math.AP↗

arXiv2015

Compactness estimates for Hamilton-Jacobi equations depending on space

We study quantitative estimates of compactness in $\mathbf{W}^{1,1}_{loc}$ for the map $S_t$, $t>0$ that associates to every given initial data $u_0\in \mathrm{Lip}(\mathbb{R}^N)$ the corresponding solution $S_t u_0$ of a Hamilton-Jacobi equation $$ u_t+H\big(x, \nabla_{\!x} u\big)=0\,, \qquad t\geq 0,\quad x\in \mathbb{R}^N, $$ with a convex and coercive Hamiltonian $H=H(x,p)$. We provide upper and lower bounds of order $1/\varepsilon^N$ on the the Kolmogorov $\varepsilon$-entropy in $\mathbf{W}^{1,1}$ of the image through the map $S_t$ of sets of bounded, compactly supported initial data. Quantitative estimates of compactness, as suggested by P.D. Lax, could provide a measure of the order of "resolution" and of "complexity" of a numerical method implemented for this equation. We establish these estimates deriving accurate a-priori bounds on the Lipschitz, semiconcavity and semiconvexity constant of a viscosity solution when the initial data is semiconvex. The derivation of a small time controllability result is also fundamental to establish the lower bounds on the $\varepsilon$-entropy.

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arXiv2015

Well-posedness of 2D and 3D swimming models in incompressible fluids governed by Navier--Stokes equations

We introduce and investigate the wellposedness of two models describing the self-propelled motion of a "small bio-mimetic swimmer" in the 2D and 3D incompressible fluids modeled by the Navier-Stokes equations. It is assumed that the swimmer's body consists of finitely many subsequently connected parts, identified with the fluid they occupy, linked by the rotational and elastic forces. The swimmer employs the change of its shape, inflicted by respective explicit internal forces, as the means for self-propulsion in a surrounding medium. Similar models were previously investigated in [15]-[19] where the fluid was modeled by the liner nonstationary Stokes equations. Such models are of interest in biological and engineering applications dealing with the study and design of propulsion systems in fluids and air.

math.AP↗

arXiv2014

Homoclinic orbits and critical points of barrier functions

We interpret the close link between the critical points of Mather's barrier functions and minimal homoclinic orbits with respect to the Aubry sets on $\mathbb{T}^n$. We also prove a critical point theorem for barrier functions, and the existence of such homoclinic orbits on $\mathbb{T}^2$ as an application.

math.AP↗

arXiv2014

Global Propagation of Singularities for Time Dependent Hamilton-Jacobi Equations

We investigate the properties of the set of singularities of semiconcave solutions of Hamilton-Jacobi equations of the form \begin{equation*} u_t(t,x)+H(\nabla u(t,x))=0, \qquad\text{a.e. }(t,x)\in (0,+\infty)\timesΩ\subset\mathbb{R}^{n+1}\,. \end{equation*} It is well known that the singularities of such solutions propagate locally along generalized characteristics. Special generalized characteristics, satisfying an energy condition, can be constructed, under some assumptions on the structure of the Hamiltonian $H$. In this paper, we provide estimates of the dissipative behavior of the energy along such curves. As an application, we prove that the singularities of any viscosity solution of the above equation cannot vanish in a finite time.

math.AP↗

arXiv2014

Second-order sensitivity relations and regularity of the value function for Mayer's problem in optimal control

This paper investigates the value function, $V$, of a Mayer optimal control problem with the state equation given by a differential inclusion. First, we obtain an invariance property for the proximal and Fréchet subdifferentials of $V$ along optimal trajectories. Then, we extend the analysis to the sub/superjets of $V$, obtaining new sensitivity relations of second order. By applying sensitivity analysis to exclude the presence of conjugate points, we deduce that the value function is twice differentiable along any optimal trajectory starting at a point at which $V$ is proximally subdifferentiable. We also provide sufficient conditions for the local $C^2$ regularity of $V$ on tubular neighborhoods of optimal trajectories.

math.OC↗

arXiv2014

Quantitative compactness estimates for Hamilton-Jacobi equations

We study quantitative compactness estimates in $\mathbf{W}^{1,1}_{loc}$ for the map $S_t$, $t>0$ that associates to every given initial data $u_0\in Lip(\mathbb{R}^N)$ the corresponding solution $S_t u_0$ of a Hamilton-Jacobi equation $$ u_t+H\big(\nabla_{/!x} u\big)=0\,, \qquad t\geq 0,\quad x\in \mathbb{R}^N, $$ with a uniformly convex Hamiltonian $H=H(p)$. We provide upper and lower estimates of order $1/\varepsilon^N$ on the the Kolmogorov $\varepsilon$-entropy in $\mathbf{W}^{1,1}$ of the image through the map $S_t$ of sets of bounded, compactly supported initial data. Estimates of this type are inspired by a question posed by P.D. Lax within the context of conservation laws, andcould provide a measure of the order of "resolution" of a numerical method implemented for this equation.

math.AP↗

arXiv2014

Sensitivity relations for the Mayer problem with differential inclusions

In optimal control,sensitivity relations are usually understood as inclusions that identify the pair formed by the dual arc and the Hamiltonian, evaluated along the associated minimizing trajectory, as a suitable generalized gradient of the value function. In this paper, sensitivity relations are obtained for the Mayer problem associated with the differential inclusion $\dot x\in F(x)$ and applied to derive optimality conditions. Our first application concerns the maximum principle and consists in showing that a dual arc can be constructed for every element of the superdifferential of the final cost. As our second application, with every nonzero limiting gradient of the value function at some point $(t,x)$ we associate a family of optimal trajectories at $(t,x)$ with the property that families corresponding to distinct limiting gradients have empty intersection.

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arXiv2013

Inverse coefficient problem for Grushin-type parabolic operators

The approach to Lipschitz stability for uniformly parabolic equations introduced by Imanuvilov and Yamamoto in 1998 based on Carleman estimates, seems hard to apply to the case of Grushin-type operators studied in this paper. Indeed, such estimates are still missing for parabolic operators degenerating in the interior of the space domain. Nevertheless, we are able to prove Lipschitz stability results for inverse coefficient problems for such operators, with locally distributed measurements in arbitrary space dimension. For this purpose, we follow a strategy that combines Fourier decomposition and Carleman inequalities for certain heat equations with nonsmooth coefficients (solved by the Fourier modes).

math.AP↗

arXiv2013

Optimality conditions and regularity results for time optimal control problems with differential inclusions

We study the time optimal control problem with a general target $\mathcal S$ for a class of differential inclusions that satisfy mild smoothness and controllability assumptions. In particular, we do not require Petrov's condition at the boundary of $\mathcal S$. Consequently, the minimum time function $T(\cdot)$ fails to be locally Lipschitz---never mind semiconcave---near $\mathcal S$. Instead of such a regularity, we use an exterior sphere condition for the hypograph of $T(\cdot)$ to develop the analysis. In this way, we obtain dual arc inclusions which we apply to show the constancy of the Hamiltonian along optimal trajectories and other optimality conditions in Hamiltonian form. We also prove an upper bound for the Hausdorff measure of the set of all nonlipschitz points of $T(\cdot)$ which implies that the minimum time function is of special bounded variation.

math.OC↗

arXiv2013

Inverse source problem and null controllability for multidimensional parabolic operators of Grushin type

The approach to Lipschitz stability for uniformly parabolic equations introduced by Imanuvilov and Yamamoto in 1998, based on Carleman estimates, seems hard to apply to the case of Grushin-type operators of interest to this paper. Indeed, such estimates are still missing for parabolic operators degenerating in the interior of the space domain. Nevertheless, we are able to prove Lipschitz stability results for inverse source problems for such operators, with locally distributed measurements in arbitrary space dimension. For this purpose, we follow a mixed strategy which combines the appraoch due to Lebeau and Robbiano, relying on Fourier decomposition, with Carleman inequalities for heat equations with nonsmooth coefficients (solved by the Fourier modes). As a corollary, we obtain a direct proof of the observability of multidimensional Grushin-type parabolic equations, with locally distributed observations, which is equivalent to null controllability with locally distributed controls.

math.AP↗

arXiv2013

Propagation of singularities for weak KAM solutions and barrier functions

This paper studies the structure of the singular set (points of nondifferentiability) of viscosity solutions to Hamilton-Jacobi equations associated with general mechanical systems on the n-torus. First, using the level set method, we characterize the propagation of singularities along generalized characteristics. Then, we obtain a local propagation result for singularities of weak KAM solutions in the supercritical case. Finally, we apply such a result to study the propagation of singularities for barrier functions.

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