@article {doi:10.1080/03605302.2015.1095766, title = {Spectral analysis and the Aharonov-Bohm effect on certain almost-Riemannian manifolds}, journal = {Communications in Partial Differential Equations}, volume = {41}, number = {1}, year = {2016}, pages = {32-50}, publisher = {Taylor \& Francis}, abstract = {

We study spectral properties of the Laplace-Beltrami operator on two relevant almost-Riemannian manifolds, namely the Grushin structures on the cylinder and on the sphere. This operator contains first order diverging terms caused by the divergence of the volume. We get explicit descriptions of the spectrum and the eigenfunctions. In particular in both cases we get a Weyl{\textquoteright}s law with leading term Elog E. We then study the drastic effect of Aharonov-Bohm magnetic potentials on the spectral properties. Other generalized Riemannian structures including conic and anti-conic type manifolds are also studied. In this case, the Aharonov-Bohm magnetic potential may affect the self-adjointness of the Laplace-Beltrami operator.

}, doi = {10.1080/03605302.2015.1095766}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1080/03605302.2015.1095766}, author = {Ugo Boscain and Dario Prandi and M. Seri} } @article {Boscain2013, title = {Lipschitz Classification of Almost-Riemannian Distances on Compact Oriented Surfaces}, journal = {Journal of Geometric Analysis}, volume = {23}, number = {1}, year = {2013}, month = {Jan}, pages = {438{\textendash}455}, abstract = {

Two-dimensional almost-Riemannian structures are generalized Riemannian structures on surfaces for which a local orthonormal frame is given by a Lie bracket generating pair of vector fields that can become collinear. We consider the Carnot{\textendash}Carath{\'e}odory distance canonically associated with an almost-Riemannian structure and study the problem of Lipschitz equivalence between two such distances on the same compact oriented surface. We analyze the generic case, allowing in particular for the presence of tangency points, i.e., points where two generators of the distribution and their Lie bracket are linearly dependent. The main result of the paper provides a characterization of the Lipschitz equivalence class of an almost-Riemannian distance in terms of a labeled graph associated with it.

}, issn = {1559-002X}, doi = {10.1007/s12220-011-9262-4}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1007/s12220-011-9262-4}, author = {Ugo Boscain and Gr{\'e}goire Charlot and Roberta Ghezzi and Mario Sigalotti} } @article {1305.5271, title = {Self-adjoint extensions and stochastic completeness of the Laplace-Beltrami operator on conic and anticonic surfaces}, year = {2013}, doi = {10.1016/j.jde.2015.10.011}, author = {Ugo Boscain and Dario Prandi} } @article {2012, title = {On 2-step, corank 2 nilpotent sub-Riemannian metrics}, journal = {SIAM J. Control Optim., 50 (2012) 559{\textendash}582}, number = {arXiv:1105.5766;}, year = {2012}, publisher = {Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics}, abstract = {In this paper we study the nilpotent 2-step, corank 2 sub-Riemannian metrics\\r\\nthat are nilpotent approximations of general sub-Riemannian metrics. We exhibit optimal syntheses for these problems. It turns out that in general the cut time is not equal to the first conjugate time but has a simple explicit expression. As a byproduct of this study we get some smoothness properties of the spherical Hausdorff measure in the case of a generic 6 dimensional, 2-step corank 2 sub-Riemannian metric.}, doi = {10.1137/110835700}, url = {http://hdl.handle.net/1963/6065}, author = {Davide Barilari and Ugo Boscain and Jean-Paul Gauthier} } @article {2012, title = {On the Hausdorff volume in sub-Riemannian geometry}, journal = {Calculus of Variations and Partial Differential Equations. Volume 43, Issue 3-4, March 2012, Pages 355-388}, number = {arXiv:1005.0540;}, year = {2012}, publisher = {SISSA}, abstract = {For a regular sub-Riemannian manifold we study the Radon-Nikodym derivative\r\nof the spherical Hausdorff measure with respect to a smooth volume. We prove\r\nthat this is the volume of the unit ball in the nilpotent approximation and it\r\nis always a continuous function. We then prove that up to dimension 4 it is\r\nsmooth, while starting from dimension 5, in corank 1 case, it is C^3 (and C^4\r\non every smooth curve) but in general not C^5. These results answer to a\r\nquestion addressed by Montgomery about the relation between two intrinsic\r\nvolumes that can be defined in a sub-Riemannian manifold, namely the Popp and\r\nthe Hausdorff volume. If the nilpotent approximation depends on the point (that\r\nmay happen starting from dimension 5), then they are not proportional, in\r\ngeneral.}, doi = {10.1007/s00526-011-0414-y}, url = {http://hdl.handle.net/1963/6454}, author = {Andrei A. Agrachev and Davide Barilari and Ugo Boscain} } @article {2012, title = {Introduction to Riemannian and sub-Riemannian geometry}, number = {SISSA;09/2012/M}, year = {2012}, institution = {SISSA}, url = {http://hdl.handle.net/1963/5877}, author = {Andrei A. Agrachev and Davide Barilari and Ugo Boscain} } @article {2010, title = {Existence of planar curves minimizing length and curvature}, journal = {Proc. Steklov Inst. Math. 270 (2010) 43-56}, number = {arXiv.org;0906.5290v2}, year = {2010}, publisher = {Springer}, abstract = {In this paper we consider the problem of reconstructing a curve that is partially hidden or corrupted by minimizing the functional $\\\\int \\\\sqrt{1+K_\\\\gamma^2} ds$, depending both on length and curvature $K$. We fix starting and ending points as well as initial and final directions.\\nFor this functional we discuss the problem of existence of minimizers on various functional spaces. We find non-existence of minimizers in cases in which initial and final directions are considered with orientation. In this case, minimizing sequences of trajectories can converge to curves with angles.\\nWe instead prove existence of minimizers for the \\\"time-reparameterized\\\" functional $$\\\\int \\\\| \\\\dot\\\\gamma(t) \\\\|\\\\sqrt{1+K_\\\\ga^2} dt$$ for all boundary conditions if initial and final directions are considered regardless to orientation. In this case, minimizers can present cusps (at most two) but not angles.}, doi = {10.1134/S0081543810030041}, url = {http://hdl.handle.net/1963/4107}, author = {Ugo Boscain and Gr{\'e}goire Charlot and Francesco Rossi} } @article {boscain2010normal, title = {A normal form for generic 2-dimensional almost-Riemannian structures at a tangency point}, journal = {arXiv preprint arXiv:1008.5036}, year = {2010}, author = {Ugo Boscain and Gr{\'e}goire Charlot and Roberta Ghezzi} } @article {2010, title = {Projective Reeds-Shepp car on $S^2$ with quadratic cost}, journal = {ESAIM COCV 16 (2010) 275-297}, number = {SISSA;34/2008/M}, year = {2010}, abstract = {Fix two points $x,\\\\bar{x}\\\\in S^2$ and two directions (without orientation) $\\\\eta,\\\\bar\\\\eta$ of the velocities in these points. In this paper we are interested to the problem of minimizing the cost $$ J[\\\\gamma]=\\\\int_0^T g_{\\\\gamma(t)}(\\\\dot\\\\gamma(t),\\\\dot\\\\gamma(t))+\\nK^2_{\\\\gamma(t)}g_{\\\\gamma(t)}(\\\\dot\\\\gamma(t),\\\\dot\\\\gamma(t)) ~dt$$ along all smooth curves starting from $x$ with direction $\\\\eta$ and ending in $\\\\bar{x}$ with direction $\\\\bar\\\\eta$. Here $g$ is the standard Riemannian metric on $S^2$ and $K_\\\\gamma$ is the corresponding geodesic curvature.\\nThe interest of this problem comes from mechanics and geometry of vision. It can be formulated as a sub-Riemannian problem on the lens space L(4,1).\\nWe compute the global solution for this problem: an interesting feature is that some optimal geodesics present cusps. The cut locus is a stratification with non trivial topology.}, doi = {10.1051/cocv:2008075}, url = {http://hdl.handle.net/1963/2668}, author = {Ugo Boscain and Francesco Rossi} } @article {2010, title = {Two-dimensional almost-Riemannian structures with tangency points}, journal = {Ann. Inst. H. Poincare Anal. Non Lineaire }, volume = {27}, number = {arXiv.org;0908.2564v1}, year = {2010}, pages = {793-807}, publisher = {Elsevier}, abstract = {

Two-dimensional almost-Riemannian structures are generalized Riemannian structures on surfaces for which a local orthonormal frame is given by a Lie bracket generating pair of vector fields that can become collinear. We study the relation between the topological invariants of an almost-Riemannian structure on a compact oriented surface and the rank-two vector bundle over the surface which defines the structure. We analyse the generic case including the presence of tangency points, i.e. points where two generators of the distribution and their Lie bracket are linearly dependent. The main result of the paper provides a classification of oriented almost-Riemannian structures on compact oriented surfaces in terms of the Euler number of the vector bundle corresponding to the structure. Moreover, we present a Gauss-Bonnet formula for almost-Riemannian structures with tangency points.

}, doi = {10.1016/j.anihpc.2009.11.011}, url = {http://hdl.handle.net/1963/3870}, author = {Andrei A. Agrachev and Ugo Boscain and Gr{\'e}goire Charlot and Roberta Ghezzi and Mario Sigalotti} } @article {2009, title = {Controllability of the discrete-spectrum Schrodinger equation driven by an external field}, journal = {Ann. Inst. H. Poincare Anal. Non Lineaire 26 (2009) 329-349}, number = {SISSA;01/2008/M}, year = {2009}, abstract = {We prove approximate controllability of the bilinear Schrodinger equation in the case in which the uncontrolled Hamiltonian has discrete nonresonant\\nspectrum. The results that are obtained apply both to bounded or unbounded domains and to the case in which the control potential is bounded or unbounded. The method relies on finite-dimensional techniques applied to the\\nGalerkin approximations and permits, in addition, to get some controllability properties for the density matrix. Two examples are presented: the harmonic oscillator and the 3D well of potential controlled by suitable potentials.}, doi = {10.1016/j.anihpc.2008.05.001}, url = {http://hdl.handle.net/1963/2547}, author = {Thomas Chambrion and Paolo Mason and Mario Sigalotti and Ugo Boscain} } @article {2009, title = {The intrinsic hypoelliptic Laplacian and its heat kernel on unimodular Lie groups}, journal = {J. Funct. Anal. 256 (2009) 2621-2655}, number = {SISSA;33/2008/M}, year = {2009}, abstract = {We present an invariant definition of the hypoelliptic Laplacian on sub-Riemannian structures with constant growth vector, using the Popp\\\'s volume form introduced by Montgomery. This definition generalizes the one of the Laplace-Beltrami operator in Riemannian geometry. In the case of left-invariant problems on unimodular Lie groups we prove that it coincides with the usual sum of squares.\\nWe then extend a method (first used by Hulanicki on the Heisenberg group) to compute explicitly the kernel of the hypoelliptic heat equation on any unimodular Lie group of type I. The main tool is the noncommutative Fourier transform. We then study some relevant cases: SU(2), SO(3), SL(2) (with the metrics inherited by the Killing form), and the group SE(2) of rototranslations of the plane.\\nOur study is motivated by some recent results about the cut and conjugate loci on these sub-Riemannian manifolds. The perspective is to understand how singularities of the sub-Riemannian distance reflect on the kernel of the corresponding hypoelliptic heat equation.}, doi = {10.1016/j.jfa.2009.01.006}, url = {http://hdl.handle.net/1963/2669}, author = {Andrei A. Agrachev and Ugo Boscain and Jean-Paul Gauthier and Francesco Rossi} } @article {2008, title = {A Gauss-Bonnet-like formula on two-dimensional almost-Riemannian manifolds}, journal = {Discrete Contin. Dyn. Syst. 20 (2008) 801-822}, number = {SISSA;55/2006/M}, year = {2008}, abstract = {We consider a generalization of Riemannian geometry that naturally arises in the framework of control theory. Let $X$ and $Y$ be two smooth vector fields on a two-dimensional manifold $M$. If $X$ and $Y$ are everywhere linearly independent, then they define a classical Riemannian metric on $M$ (the metric for which they are orthonormal) and they give to $M$ the structure of metric space. If $X$ and $Y$ become linearly dependent somewhere on $M$, then the corresponding Riemannian metric has singularities, but under generic conditions the metric structure is still well defined. Metric structures that can be defined locally in this way are called almost-Riemannian structures. They are special cases of rank-varying sub-Riemannian structures, which are naturally defined in terms of submodules of the space of smooth vector fields on $M$. Almost-Riemannian structures show interesting phenomena, in particular for what concerns the relation between curvature, presence of conjugate points, and topology of the manifold. The main result of the paper is a generalization to almost-Riemannian structures of the Gauss-Bonnet formula.}, doi = {10.3934/dcds.2008.20.801}, url = {http://hdl.handle.net/1963/1869}, author = {Andrei A. Agrachev and Ugo Boscain and Mario Sigalotti} } @article {2008, title = {Invariant Carnot-Caratheodory metrics on S3, SO(3), SL(2) and Lens Spaces}, journal = {SIAM J. Control Optim. 47 (2008) 1851-1878}, number = {SISSA;58/2007/M}, year = {2008}, abstract = {In this paper we study the invariant Carnot-Caratheodory metrics on SU(2) \\\' S3,\\nSO(3) and SL(2) induced by their Cartan decomposition. Beside computing explicitly geodesics and conjugate loci, we compute the cut loci (globally) and we give the expression of the Carnot-Caratheodory distance as the inverse of an elementary function. We then prove that the metric\\ngiven on SU(2) projects on the so called Lens Spaces L(p; q). Also for Lens Spaces, we compute\\nthe cut loci (globally).}, doi = {10.1137/070703727}, url = {http://hdl.handle.net/1963/2144}, author = {Ugo Boscain and Francesco Rossi} } @article {2008, title = {Limit Time Optimal Syntheses for a control-affine system on S{\texttwosuperior}}, journal = {SIAM J. Control Optim. 47 (2008) 111-143}, number = {SISSA;48/2006/M}, year = {2008}, abstract = {For $\\\\alpha \\\\in ]0,\\\\pi/2[$, let $(\\\\Sigma)_\\\\alpha$ be the control system $\\\\dot{x}=(F+uG)x$, where $x$ belongs to the two-dimensional unit sphere $S^2$, $u\\\\in [-1,1]$, and $F,G$ are $3\\\\times3$ skew-symmetric matrices generating rotations with perpendicular axes and of respective norms $\\\\cos(\\\\alpha)$ and $\\\\sin(\\\\alpha)$. In this paper, we study the time optimal synthesis (TOS) from the north pole $(0,0,1)^T$ associated to $(\\\\Sigma)_\\\\alpha$, as the parameter $\\\\alpha$ tends to zero; this problem is motivated by specific issues in the control of quantum systems. We first prove that the TOS is characterized by a \\\"two-snakes\\\" configuration on the whole $S^2$, except for a neighborhood $U_\\\\alpha$ of the south pole $(0,0,-1)^T$ of diameter at most ${\\\\cal O}(\\\\alpha)$. We next show that, inside $U_\\\\alpha$, the TOS depends on the relationship between $r(\\\\alpha):=\\\\pi/2\\\\alpha-[\\\\pi/2\\\\alpha]$ and $\\\\alpha$. More precisely, we characterize three main relationships by considering sequences $(\\\\alpha_k)_{k\\\\geq 0}$ satisfying (a) $r(\\\\alpha_k)=\\\\bar{r}$, (b) $r(\\\\alpha_k)=C\\\\alpha_k$, and (c) $r(\\\\alpha_k)=0$, where $\\\\bar{r}\\\\in (0,1)$ and $C>0$. In each case, we describe the TOS and provide, after a suitable rescaling, the limiting behavior, as $\\\\alpha$ tends to zero, of the corresponding TOS inside $U_\\\\alpha$.}, doi = {10.1137/060675988}, url = {http://hdl.handle.net/1963/1862}, author = {Paolo Mason and Rebecca Salmoni and Ugo Boscain and Yacine Chitour} } @article {2008, title = {Stability of planar switched systems: the nondiagonalizable case}, journal = {Commun. Pure Appl. Anal. 7 (2008) 1-21}, number = {SISSA;44/2006/M}, year = {2008}, doi = {10.3934/cpaa.2008.7.1}, url = {http://hdl.handle.net/1963/1857}, author = {Ugo Boscain and Moussa Balde} } @article {2007, title = {Gaussian estimates for hypoelliptic operators via optimal control}, journal = {Atti Accad. Naz. Lincei Cl. Sci. Fis. Mat. Natur. Rend. Lincei (9) Mat. Appl. 18 (2007) 333-342}, number = {SISSA;45/2007/M}, year = {2007}, abstract = {We obtain Gaussian lower bounds for the fundamental solution of a class of hypoelliptic equations, by using repeatedly an invariant Harnack inequality. Our main result is given in terms of the value function of a suitable optimal control problem.}, doi = {10.4171/RLM/499}, url = {http://hdl.handle.net/1963/1994}, author = {Ugo Boscain and Sergio Polidoro} } @article {2007, title = {High-order angles in almost-Riemannian geometry}, number = {SISSA;59/2007/M}, year = {2007}, abstract = {Let X and Y be two smooth vector fields on a two-dimensional manifold M. If X and Y are everywhere linearly independent, then they define a Riemannian metric on M (the metric for which they are orthonormal) and they give to M the structure of metric space. If X and Y become linearly dependent somewhere on M, then the corresponding Riemannian metric has singularities, but under generic conditions the metric structure is still well defined. Metric structures that can be defined locally in this way are called almost-Riemannian structures. The main result of the paper is a generalization to almost-Riemannian structures of the Gauss-Bonnet formula for domains with piecewise-C2 boundary. The main feature of such formula is the presence of terms that play the role of high-order angles at the intersection points with the set of singularities.}, url = {http://hdl.handle.net/1963/1995}, author = {Ugo Boscain and Mario Sigalotti} } @article {2006, title = {Classification of stable time-optimal controls on 2-manifolds}, journal = {J. Math. Sci. 135 (2006) 3109-3124}, number = {SISSA;20/2004/M}, year = {2006}, doi = {10.1007/s10958-006-0148-0}, url = {http://hdl.handle.net/1963/2196}, author = {Ugo Boscain and Igor Nikolaev and Benedetto Piccoli} } @article {2006, title = {Common Polynomial Lyapunov Functions for Linear Switched Systems}, journal = {SIAM J. Control Optim. 45 (2006) 226-245}, number = {arXiv.org;math/0403209v2}, year = {2006}, abstract = {In this paper, we consider linear switched systems $\\\\dot x(t)=A_{u(t)} x(t)$, $x\\\\in\\\\R^n$, $u\\\\in U$, and the problem of asymptotic stability for arbitrary switching functions, uniform with respect to switching ({\\\\bf UAS} for short). We first prove that, given a {\\\\bf UAS} system, it is always possible to build a common polynomial Lyapunov function. Then our main result is that the degree of that common polynomial Lyapunov function is not uniformly bounded over all the {\\\\bf UAS} systems. This result answers a question raised by Dayawansa and Martin. A generalization to a class of piecewise-polynomial Lyapunov functions is given.}, doi = {10.1137/040613147}, url = {http://hdl.handle.net/1963/2181}, author = {Paolo Mason and Ugo Boscain and Yacine Chitour} } @article {2006, title = {Stability of planar nonlinear switched systems}, number = {SISSA;04/2005/M}, year = {2006}, abstract = {We consider the time-dependent nonlinear system ˙ q(t) = u(t)X(q(t)) + (1 - u(t))Y (q(t)), where q ∈ R2, X and Y are two smooth vector fields, globally asymptotically stable at the origin and u : [0,$\infty$) {\textrightarrow} {0, 1} is an arbitrary measurable function. Analysing the topology of the set where X and Y are parallel, we give some sufficient and some necessary conditions for global asymptotic stability, uniform with respect to u(.). Such conditions can be verified without any integration or construction of a Lyapunov function, and they are robust under small perturbations of the vector fields.}, url = {http://hdl.handle.net/1963/1710}, author = {Ugo Boscain and Gr{\'e}goire Charlot and Mario Sigalotti} } @article {2006, title = {Time Minimal Trajectories for a Spin 1/2 Particle in a Magnetic field}, number = {SISSA;82/2005/M}, year = {2006}, abstract = {In this paper we consider the minimum time population transfer problem for the z-component\\nof the spin of a (spin 1/2) particle driven by a magnetic field, controlled along the x axis, with bounded amplitude. On the Bloch sphere (i.e. after a suitable Hopf projection), this problem can be attacked with techniques of optimal syntheses on 2-D manifolds. Let (-E,E) be the two energy levels, and |omega (t)| <= M the bound on the field amplitude. For each couple of values E and M, we determine the time optimal synthesis starting from the level -E and we provide the explicit expression of the time optimal trajectories steering the state one to the state two, in terms of a parameter that can be computed solving numerically a suitable equation. For M/E << 1, every time optimal trajectory is bang-bang and in particular the corresponding control is periodic with frequency of the order of the resonance frequency wR = 2E. On the other side, for M/E > 1, the time optimal trajectory steering the state one to the state two is bang-bang with exactly one switching. Fixed E we also prove that for M {\textrightarrow} $\infty$ the time needed to reach the state two tends to zero. In the case M/E > 1 there are time optimal trajectories containing a singular arc. Finally we compare these results with some known results of Khaneja, Brockett and Glaser and with those obtained by controlling the magnetic field both on the x and y directions (or with one external field, but in the rotating wave approximation). As byproduct we prove that the qualitative shape of the time optimal synthesis presents different patterns, that cyclically alternate as M/E {\textrightarrow} 0, giving a partial proof of a conjecture formulated in a previous paper.}, doi = {10.1063/1.2203236}, url = {http://hdl.handle.net/1963/1734}, author = {Ugo Boscain and Paolo Mason} } @article {2005, title = {Nonisotropic 3-level quantum systems: complete solutions for minimum time and minimum energy}, journal = {Discrete Contin. Dyn. Syst. Ser. B 5 (2005) 957-990}, number = {SISSA;56/2004/M}, year = {2005}, abstract = {We apply techniques of subriemannian geometry on Lie groups and of optimal synthesis on 2-D manifolds to the population transfer problem in a three-level quantum system driven by two laser pulses, of arbitrary shape and frequency. In the rotating wave approximation, we consider a nonisotropic model i.e. a model in which the two coupling constants of the lasers are different. The aim is to induce transitions from the first to the third level, minimizing 1) the time of the transition (with bounded laser amplitudes),\\n2) the energy of lasers (with fixed final time). After reducing the problem to real variables, for the purpose 1) we develop a theory of time optimal syntheses for distributional problem on 2-D-manifolds, while for the purpose 2) we use techniques of subriemannian geometry on 3-D Lie groups. The complete optimal syntheses are computed.}, url = {http://hdl.handle.net/1963/2259}, author = {Ugo Boscain and Thomas Chambrion and Gr{\'e}goire Charlot} } @inbook {2005, title = {A short introduction to optimal control}, booktitle = {Contr{\^o}le non lin{\'e}aire et applications: Cours donn{\'e}s {\`a} l\\\'{\'e}cole d\\\'{\'e}t{\'e} du Cimpa de l\\\'Universit{\'e} de Tlemcen / Sari Tewfit [ed.]. - Paris: Hermann, 2005}, number = {SISSA;10/2004/M}, year = {2005}, isbn = {2 7056 6511 0}, url = {http://hdl.handle.net/1963/2257}, author = {Ugo Boscain and Benedetto Piccoli} } @article {2005, title = {Time minimal trajectories for two-level quantum systems with drift}, number = {SISSA;5/2005/M}, year = {2005}, abstract = {On a two-level quantum system driven by an external field, we consider the population transfer problem from the first to the second level, minimizing the time of transfer, with bounded field amplitude. On the Bloch sphere (i.e. after a suitable Hopf projection), this problem can be attacked with techniques of optimal syntheses on 2-D manifolds.}, url = {http://hdl.handle.net/1963/1688}, author = {Ugo Boscain and Paolo Mason} } @article {2005, title = {Time Optimal Synthesis for Left-Invariant Control Systems on SO(3)}, journal = {SIAM J. Control Optim. 44 (2005) 111-139}, number = {SISSA;21/2004/M}, year = {2005}, abstract = {Consider the control system given by $\\\\dot x=x(f+ug)$, where $x\\\\in SO(3)$, $|u|\\\\leq 1$ and $f,g\\\\in so(3)$ define two perpendicular left-invariant vector fields normalized so that $\\\\|f\\\\|=\\\\cos(\\\\al)$ and $\\\\|g\\\\|=\\\\sin(\\\\al)$, $\\\\al\\\\in ]0,\\\\pi/4[$. In this paper, we provide an upper bound and a lower bound for $N(\\\\alpha)$, the maximum number of switchings for time-optimal trajectories. More precisely, we show that $N_S(\\\\al)\\\\leq N(\\\\al)\\\\leq N_S(\\\\al)+4$, where $N_S(\\\\al)$ is a suitable integer function of $\\\\al$ which for $\\\\al\\\\to 0$ is of order $\\\\pi/(4\\\\alpha).$ The result is obtained by studying the time optimal synthesis of a projected control problem on $R P^2$, where the projection is defined by an appropriate Hopf fibration. Finally, we study the projected control problem on the unit sphere $S^2$. It exhibits interesting features which will be partly rigorously derived and partially described by numerical simulations.}, doi = {10.1137/S0363012904441532}, url = {http://hdl.handle.net/1963/2258}, author = {Ugo Boscain and Yacine Chitour} } @proceedings {2004, title = {On the minimal degree of a common Lyapunov function for planar switched systems}, year = {2004}, publisher = {IEEE}, abstract = {In this paper, we consider linear switched systems x(t) = Au(t)x(t), x ε Rn, u ε U, and the problem of asymptotic stability for arbitrary switching functions, uniform with respect to switching (UAS for short). We first prove that, given a UAS system, it is always possible to build a polynomial common Lyapunov function. Then our main result is that the degree of that the common polynomial Lyapunov function is not uniformly bounded over all the UAS systems. This result answers a question raised by Dayawansa and Martin.}, doi = {10.1109/CDC.2004.1428884}, url = {http://hdl.handle.net/1963/4834}, author = {Paolo Mason and Ugo Boscain and Yacine Chitour} } @article {2004, title = {Resonance of minimizers for n-level quantum systems with an arbitrary cost}, journal = {ESAIM COCV 10 (2004) 593-614}, number = {SISSA;58/2003/M}, year = {2004}, publisher = {EDP Sciences}, abstract = {We consider an optimal control problem describing a laser-induced population transfer on a $n$-level quantum system.\\nFor a convex cost depending only on the moduli of controls (i.e. the lasers intensities), we prove that there always exists a minimizer in resonance. This permits to justify some strategies used in experimental physics. It is also quite important because it permits to reduce remarkably the complexity of the problem (and extend some of our previous results for $n=2$ and $n=3$): instead of looking for minimizers on the sphere $S^{2n-1}\\\\subset\\\\C^n$ one is reduced to look just for minimizers on the sphere $S^{n-1}\\\\subset \\\\R^n$. Moreover, for the reduced problem, we investigate on the question of existence of strict abnormal minimizer.}, doi = {10.1051/cocv:2004022}, url = {http://hdl.handle.net/1963/2910}, author = {Ugo Boscain and Gr{\'e}goire Charlot} } @article {2002, title = {On the K+P problem for a three-level quantum system: optimality implies resonance}, journal = {J.Dynam. Control Systems 8 (2002),no.4, 547}, number = {SISSA;30/2002/M}, year = {2002}, publisher = {SISSA Library}, doi = {10.1023/A:1020767419671}, url = {http://hdl.handle.net/1963/1601}, author = {Ugo Boscain and Thomas Chambrion and Jean-Paul Gauthier} } @article {2002, title = {Stability of planar switched systems: the linear single input case}, journal = {SIAM J. Control Optim. 41 (2002), no. 1, 89-112}, number = {SISSA;72/00/M}, year = {2002}, publisher = {SIAM}, abstract = {We study the stability of the origin for the dynamical system $\\\\dot x(t)=u(t)Ax(t)+(1-u(t))Bx(t),$ where A and B are two 2 {\texttimes} 2 real matrices with eigenvalues having strictly negative real part, $x\\\\in {\\\\mbox{{\\\\bf R}}}^2$, and $u(.):[0,\\\\infty[\\\\to[0,1]$ is a completely random measurable function. More precisely, we find a (coordinates invariant) necessary and sufficient condition on A and B for the origin to be asymptotically stable for each function u(.). The result is obtained without looking for a common Lyapunov function but studying the locus in which the two vector fields Ax and Bx are collinear. There are only three relevant parameters: the first depends only on the eigenvalues of A, the second depends only on the eigenvalues of B, and the third contains the interrelation among the two systems, and it is the cross ratio of the four eigenvectors of A and B in the projective line CP1. In the space of these parameters, the shape and the convexity of the region in which there is stability are studied.}, doi = {10.1137/S0363012900382837}, url = {http://hdl.handle.net/1963/1529}, author = {Ugo Boscain} } @article {2001, title = {Extremal synthesis for generic planar systems}, journal = {J. Dynam. Control Systems, 2001, 7, 209}, number = {SISSA;45/00/M}, year = {2001}, publisher = {SISSA Library}, doi = {10.1023/A:1013003204923}, url = {http://hdl.handle.net/1963/1503}, author = {Ugo Boscain and Benedetto Piccoli} } @article {2001, title = {Morse properties for the minimum time function on 2-D manifolds}, journal = {J. Dynam. Control Systems 7 (2001), no. 3, 385--423}, number = {SISSA;84/00/M}, year = {2001}, publisher = {SISSA Library}, doi = {10.1023/A:1013190914234}, url = {http://hdl.handle.net/1963/1541}, author = {Ugo Boscain and Benedetto Piccoli} } @article {2000, title = {Abnormal extremals for minimum time on the plane}, number = {SISSA;50/00/M}, year = {2000}, publisher = {SISSA Library}, url = {http://hdl.handle.net/1963/1508}, author = {Ugo Boscain and Benedetto Piccoli} } @article {1999, title = {Projection singularities of extremals for planar systems}, number = {SISSA;90/99/M}, year = {1999}, publisher = {SISSA Library}, url = {http://hdl.handle.net/1963/1304}, author = {Ugo Boscain and Benedetto Piccoli} } @article {1998, title = {Geometric control approach to synthesis theory}, journal = {Rend. Sem. Mat. Univ. Politec. Torino 56 (1998), no. 4, 53-68 (2001)}, number = {SISSA;63/99/M}, year = {1998}, publisher = {SISSA Library}, url = {http://hdl.handle.net/1963/1277}, author = {Ugo Boscain and Benedetto Piccoli} }