DG-MP-PDE Seminar: Inverse problems via variational methods

We present a general variational method, involving self-dual variational calculus, for recovering non-linearities from prescribed solutions for certain types of PDEs which are not necessarily of Euler-Lagrange type, including parabolic equations. The approach can also be used for optimal control problems. The topological aspects involved, for the space of self-dual Lagrangians, and the space of maximal monotone vector fields on a reflexive Banach space will be discussed.