Controllability results for stochastic coupled systems of fourth- and second-order parabolic equations

In this paper, we study some controllability and observability problems for stochastic systems coupling fourth- and second-order parabolic equations. The main goal is to control both equations with only one controller localized on the drift of the fourth-order equation. We analyze two cases: on the one hand, we study the controllability of a linear backward system where the couplings are made only through first-order terms. The key point is to use suitable Carleman estimates for the heat equation and the fourth-order operator with the same weight to deduce an observability inequality for the adjoint system. On the other hand, we study the controllability of a simplified nonlinear coupled model of forward equations. This case, which is well known to be harder to solve, follows a methodology that has been introduced recently and relies on an adaptation of the well-known source term method in the stochastic setting together with a truncation procedure. This approach gives a new concept of controllability for stochastic systems.