Optimal Control in Hilbert Complex Spaces with Finite Element Exterior Calculus

Abstract

We develop a framework for PDE-constrained optimal control on Hilbert complexes and its structure-preserving discretization by finite element exterior calculus (FEEC), with emphasis on problems where nontrivial topology creates physically meaningful global modes. We separate the gauge-fixed local state from harmonic components representing global circulation or flux, and introduce finite-dimensional topological actuators whose reachable modes are determined jointly by domain topology and actuator rank. We establish well-posedness, weak optimality conditions, reachability results, and FEEC error estimates preserving the harmonic structure. Numerical experiments on contractible and multiply connected domains demonstrate circulation and cavity- flux control, rank-dependent reachability, mesh-independent optimization, and topology-induced singular convergence. We further extend the framework to time-dependent Maxwell control, where harmonic electric circulation and magnetic flux become dynamical states exhibiting explicit conservation and reachability properties.