Geometrical optics for the fractional Helmholtz equation and applications to inverse problems

Abstract

In this paper we construct a parametrix for the fractional Helmholtz equation $((-\Delta)^s - \tau^{2s} r(x)^{2s} + q(x))u=0$ making use of geometrical optics solutions. We show that the associated eikonal equation is the same as in the classical case, while in the first transport equation the effect of nonlocality is only visible in the zero-th order term, which depends on $s$. Moreover, we show that the approximate geometrical optics solutions present different behaviors in the regimes $s\in(0,\frac 12)$ and $s\in [\frac 12,1)$. While the latter case is quite similar to the classical one, which corresponds to $s=1$, in the former case we find that the potential is a strong perturbation, which changes the propagation of singularities. As an application, we study the inverse problem consisting in recovering the potential $q$ from Cauchy data when the refraction index $r$ is fixed and simple. Using our parametrix based on the construction of approximate geometrical optics solutions, we prove that H\"older stability holds for this problem. This is a substantial improvement over the state of the art for fractional wave equations, for which the usual Runge approximation argument can provide only logarithmic stability. Besides its mathematical novelty, this study is motivated by envisioned applications in nonlocal elasticity models emerging from the geophysical sciences.