Some Sufficient Conditions for the Controllability of Wave Equations with Variable Coefficients

Abstract

Motivated by Fu et al. (SIAM J. Control Optim. 46: 1578-1614, 2007), we present in this paper some 'algebraic' conditions that ensure the controllability of wave equations with non-constant coefficients. Compared with the 'geometric' conditions obtained in Yao (SIAM J. Control Optim. 37: 1568-1599, 1999), the conditions presented here are easier to be verified because only the first order derivatives of the coefficients are involved.