This monograph deals with cases where optimal control either does not exist or is not unique, cases where optimality conditions are insufficient of degenerate, or where extremum problems in the sense of Tikhonov and Hadamard are ill-posed, and other situations. A formal application of classical optimisation methods in such cases either leads to wrong results or has no effect. The detailed analysis of these examples should provide a better understanding of the modern theory of optimal control and the practical difficulties of solving extremum problems.

This monograph deals with cases where optimal control either does not exist or is not unique, cases where optimality conditions are insufficient of degenerate, or where extremum problems in the sense of Tikhonov and Hadamard are ill-posed, and other situations. A formal application of classical optimisation methods in such cases either leads to wrong results or has no effect. The detailed analysis of these examples should provide a better understanding of the modern theory of optimal control and the practical difficulties of solving extremum problems.

Professor Xunjing Li (1935–2003) was a pioneer in control theory in China. He was influential in the Chinese community of applied mathematics, and the global community of optimal control theory of distributed parameter systems. He has made very important contributions to the optimal control theory of distributed parameter systems, in particular regarding the first-order necessary conditions (Pontryagin-type maximum principle) for optimal control of nonlinear infinite-dimensional systems. This proceedings volume is a collection of original research papers or reviews authored or co-authored by Professor Li's former students, postdoctoral fellows, and mentored scholars in the areas of control theory, dynamic systems, mathematical finance, and stochastic analysis, among others. These articles show in some degree the influence of Professor Xunjing Li.

This book gathers the most essential results, including recent ones, on linear-quadratic optimal control problems, which represent an important aspect of stochastic control. It presents the results in the context of finite and infinite horizon problems, and discusses a number of new and interesting issues. Further, it precisely identifies, for the first time, the interconnections between three well-known, relevant issues – the existence of optimal controls, solvability of the optimality system, and solvability of the associated Riccati equation. Although the content is largely self-contained, readers should have a basic grasp of linear algebra, functional analysis and stochastic ordinary differential equations. The book is mainly intended for senior undergraduate and graduate students majoring in applied mathematics who are interested in stochastic control theory. However, it will also appeal to researchers in other related areas, such as engineering, management, finance/economics and the social sciences.

Optimal control methods are used to determine optimal ways to control a dynamic system. The theoretical work in this field serves as a foundation for the book, which the authors have applied to business management problems developed from their research and classroom instruction. Sethi and Thompson have provided management science and economics communities with a thoroughly revised edition of their classic text on Optimal Control Theory. The new edition has been completely refined with careful attention to the text and graphic material presentation. Chapters cover a range of topics including finance, production and inventory problems, marketing problems, machine maintenance and replacement, problems of optimal consumption of natural resources, and applications of control theory to economics. The book contains new results that were not available when the first edition was published, as well as an expansion of the material on stochastic optimal control theory.

From economics and business to the biological sciences to physics and engineering, professionals successfully use the powerful mathematical tool of optimal control to make management and strategy decisions. Optimal Control Applied to Biological Models thoroughly develops the mathematical aspects of optimal control theory and provides insight into the application of this theory to biological models. Focusing on mathematical concepts, the book first examines the most basic problem for continuous time ordinary differential equations (ODEs) before discussing more complicated problems, such as variations of the initial conditions, imposed bounds on the control, multiple states and controls, linear dependence on the control, and free terminal time. In addition, the authors introduce the optimal control of discrete systems and of partial differential equations (PDEs). Featuring a user-friendly interface, the book contains fourteen interactive sections of various applications, including immunology and epidemic disease models, management decisions in harvesting, and resource allocation models. It also develops the underlying numerical methods of the applications and includes the MATLAB® codes on which the applications are based. Requiring only basic knowledge of multivariable calculus, simple ODEs, and mathematical models, this text shows how to adjust controls in biological systems in order to achieve proper outcomes.

Xunjing Li (1935-2003) was a pioneer in control theory in China. He was known in the Chinese community of applied mathematics, and in the global community of optimal control theory of distributed parameter systems. He has made important contributions to the optimal control theory of distributed parameter systems, in particular regarding the first-order necessary conditions (Pontryagin-type maximum principle) for optimal control of nonlinear infinite-dimensional systems. He directed the Seminar of Control Theory at Fudan towards stochastic control theory in 1980s, and mathematical finance in 1990s, which has led to several important subsequent developments in both closely interactive fields. These remarkable efforts in scientific research and education, among others, gave birth to the so-called “Fudan School”.This proceedings volume includes a collection of original research papers or reviews authored or co-authored by Xunjing Li's former students, postdoctoral fellows, and mentored scholars in the areas of control theory, dynamic systems, mathematical finance, and stochastic analysis, among others.