On the Extremum Control Problem with Pointwise Observation for a Parabolic Equation

In this paper we consider a control problem with pointwise observation for a one-dimensional parabolic equation which arises in a mathematical model of climate control in industrial greenhouses. We study a general equation with variable diffusion coefficient, convection coefficient, and depletion potential. For the extremum problem of minimizing an integral weighted quadratic cost functional, we establish the existence and uniqueness of a minimizing function. We also study exact controllability and dense controllability of the problem. Necessary conditions for an extremum are obtained, and qualitative properties of the minimizing function are studied.