Optimal control problems for the reaction–diffusion–convection equation with variable coefficients

The solvability of optimal control problems is proved on both weak and strong solutions of a boundary value problem for the nonlinear reaction–diffusion–convection equation with variable coefficients. In the second case, the requirements for smoothness of the multiplicative control are reduced. The study of extremal problems is based on the proof of the solvability of the corresponding boundary value problems and on the qualitative analysis of their solutions properties. The large data existence results for weak solutions, the maximum principle as well as the local existence and uniqueness of a strong solution are established. Moreover, an optimal feedback control problem is considered. Using methods of the theory of topological degree for set-valued perturbations (with aspheric image sets) of generalized monotone operators, we obtain sufficient conditions for the solvability of this problem in the class of weak solutions. © 2023 Elsevier Ltd