Numerical identification of a spatially varying diffusion coefficient

Abstract

We consider the inverse problem of identifying a spatially varying diffusion coefficient on the basis of an observed solution to the forward problem. Under appropriate conditions, this inverse problem can be solved as a first order hyperbolic problem in the unknown coefficient. We provide a modified upwind difference scheme for this hyperbolic problem and prove that its convergence rate is O ( h ) O(h) when certain conditions are met.