Dynamic Optimal Transport with Optimal Preferential Paths

Abstract: We study a dynamic optimal transport type problem on a domain that consists of two parts: a compact set $\Omega \subset \mathbb{R}^d$ (bulk) and a non-intersecting and sufficiently regular curve $\Gamma \subset \Omega$. On each of them, a Benamou-Brenier type dynamic optimal transport problem is considered, yet with an additional mechanism that allows the exchange (at a cost) of mass between bulk and curve. In the respective actions, we also allow for non-linear mobilities. We first ensure the existence of minimizers by relying on the direct method of calculus of variations and we study the asymptotic properties of the minimizers under changes in the parameters regulating the dynamics in $\Omega$ and $\Gamma$. Then, we study the case when the curve $\Gamma$ is also allowed to change, being the main interest in this paper. To this end, the Tangent-Point energy is added to the action functional in order to preserve the regularity properties of the curve and prevent self-intersections. Also in this case, by relying on suitable compactness estimates both for the time-dependent measures and the curve $\Gamma$, the existence of optimizers is shown. We extend these analytical findings by numerical simulations based on a primal-dual approach that illustrate the behaviour of geodesics, for fixed and varying curves.