Boundary controllability for a fourth order degenerate parabolic equation with a singular potential

Abstract

In this paper, we prove the null controllability of a one-dimensional fourth-order degenerate parabolic equation with a singular potential. Here, we analyze cases where boundary control conditions are applied at the left endpoint. We utilize a spectral decomposition involving Bessel functions and their zeros in a convenient weighted Sobolev space for a degenerate parabolic operator with specific boundary conditions. We establish the well-posedness of the system using semigroup operator theory. Subsequently, we employ the moment method by Fattorini and Russell to obtain an upper estimate of the cost of controllability. Additionally, we derive a lower estimate of the cost of controllability using a representation theorem for analytic functions of exponential type.