$1$-dimensional multi-agent optimal control with aggregation and distance constraints: qualitative properties and mean-field limit

Abstract: In this paper we consider an optimal control problem for a large population of interacting agents with deterministic dynamics, aggregating potential and constraints on reciprocal distances, in dimension 1. We study existence and qualitative properties of periodic in time optimal trajectories of the finite agents optimal control problem, with particular interest on the compactness of the solutions' support and on the saturation of the distance constraint. Moreover, we prove, through a $\Gamma$-convergence result, the consistency of the mean-field optimal control problem with density constraints with the corresponding underlying finite agent one and we deduce some qualitative results for the time periodic equilibria of the limit problem.