Coefficient Identification Problem with Integral Overdetermination Condition for Diffusion Equations

Abstract

In this paper, we investigate a nonlinear inverse problem aimed at recovering a coefficient $a(t, x)$, dependent on both time and a subset of spatial variables, in a diffusion equation \( u_t - \Delta_x u - u_{yy} +a(t, x) u = f(t,x,y) \), using an additional measurement given as an integral over the spatial domain. Here \(x \in G \subset \mathbb{R}^m\) and \(y \in (0, \pi)\). We establish theorems on the existence and uniqueness of both local and global weak solutions. Furthermore, we demonstrate that, under sufficient smoothness of the problem data, there exists a uniquely determined strong solution (both local and global) to the inverse problem. Our approach combines the Fourier method with a priori estimates. Previous studies have addressed similar inverse problems for parabolic equations defined over the entire space.