Optimal control of a kinetic equation

Abstract: This work addresses an optimal control problem constrained by a degenerate kinetic equation of parabolic-hyperbolic type. Using a hypocoercivity framework we establish the well-posedness of the problem and demonstrate that the optimal solutions exhibit a hypocoercive decay property, ensuring stability and robustness. Building on this framework, we develop a finite element discretisation that preserves the stability properties of the continuous system. The effectiveness and accuracy of the proposed method are validated through a series of numerical experiments, showcasing its ability to handle challenging PDE-constrained optimal control problems.