We study the Dirichlet boundary value problem for eikonal type equations of ray light propagation in an inhomogeneous medium with discontinuous refraction index. We prove a comparison principle that allows us to obtain existence and uniqueness of a continuous viscosity solution when the Lie algebra generated by the coefficients satisfies a Hörmander type condition. We require the refraction index to be piecewise continuous across Lipschitz hypersurfaces. The results characterize the value function of the generalized minimum time problem with discontinuous running cost.

We describe both the classical Lagrangian and the Eulerian methods for first order Hamilton–Jacobi equations of geometric optic type. We then explain the basic structure of the softwareand how new solvers/models can be added to it. A selection of numerical examples are presented.

This essentially numerical study, sets out to investigate various geometrical properties of exact boundary controllability of the waveequation when the control is applied on a part of the boundary. Relationships between the geometry of the domain, the geometry ofthe controlled boundary, the time needed to control and the energy of the control are dealt with. A new norm of the control and anenergetic cost factor are introduced. These quantities enable a detailed appraisal of the numerical solutions obtained and the detectionof trapped rays.