Computer-assisted proofs of non-reachability for linear parabolic PDEs under bounded control constraints
Nov 10, 2025·,,
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0 min read
Ivan Hasenohr
Camille Pouchol
Yannick Privat
Christophe Zhang

Abstract
Analysing reachability associated to a control system is a subtle issue, especially for infinitedimensional dynamics, and when controls are subject to bounded constraints. We develop a computer-assisted framework for establishing non-reachability in linear parabolic PDEs governed by strongly elliptic operators, extending recent finite-dimensional techniques introduced in to the PDE setting. The non-reachability of a given target is shown to be equivalent to proving that a properly defined dual functional takes negative values. Our approach combines rigorous numerics with explicit convergence estimates for discretisations of the adjoint equation, ensuring mathematically certified results with tight error bounds. We demonstrate the wide applicability of our framework on Laplacian-driven control systems, showcasing its accuracy and reliability under various types of control constraints.
Type

Authors
Christophe Zhang
(he/him)
researcher
I am currently in secondment at Inria Paris, as a researcher in the CAGE team. I work on control, stabilization and optimal control problems in infinite dimension (PDEs and evolution equation), with a particular focus on constrained control.
I have also dabbled in data-driven modelling and control, in particular methods involving the Koopman operator.
More recently, I have taken an interest in reachability analysis. I co-supervised the PhD thesis of Ivan Hasenohr with Camille Pouchol and Yannick Privat, during which we developed computer-assisted proofs of reachability and non-reachability.