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Mario Sigalotti

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Published work

29 published item(s)

preprint2026arXiv

A Mathematical Characterization of Neural Activation Induced by Temporal Interference Stimulation

Temporal Interference Stimulation (TIS) is a non-invasive neuromodulation technique in which two high-frequency sinusoidal currents with slightly different frequencies generate a low-frequency envelope that can activate deep neural structures. This study investigates the conditions under which TIS elicits action potentials in a single neuron modeled by the FitzHugh-Nagumo system. This research integrates phase-plane analysis and geometric singular perturbation to develop a mathematical framework for analyzing TIS. By combining a mathematical analysis of differential equations with computer simulations, the study elucidates how the amplitudes and beat frequency jointly determine whether the neuron remains quiescent, exhibits only transient responses, or undergoes persistent (tonic) firing.

preprint2022arXiv

Existence of surfaces optimizing geometric and PDE shape functionals under reach constraint

This article deals with the existence of hypersurfaces minimizing general shape functionals under certain geometric constraints. We consider as admissible shapes orientable hypersurfaces satisfying a so-called reach condition, also known as the uniform ball property, which ensures C 1,1 regularity of the hypersurface. In this paper, we revisit and generalise the results of [9, 4, 5]. We provide a simpler framework and more concise proofs of some of the results contained in these references and extend them to a new class of problems involving PDEs. Indeed, by using the signed distance introduced by Delfour and Zolesio (see for instance [7]), we avoid the intensive and technical use of local maps, as was the case in the above references. Our approach, originally developed to solve an existence problem in [12], can be easily extended to costs involving different mathematical objects associated with the domain, such as solutions of elliptic equations on the hypersurface.

preprint2022arXiv

Upper and lower bounds for the maximal Lyapunov exponent of singularly perturbed linear switching systems

In this paper we consider the problem of determining the stability properties, and in particular assessing the exponential stability, of a singularly perturbed linear switching system. One of the challenges of this problem arises from the intricate interplay between the small parameter of singular perturbation and the rate of switching, as both tend to zero. Our approach consists in characterizing suitable auxiliary linear systems that provide lower and upper bounds for the asymptotics of the maximal Lyapunov exponent of the linear switching system as the parameter of the singular perturbation tends to zero.

preprint2021arXiv

Effective adiabatic control of a decoupled Hamiltonian obtained by rotating wave approximation

In this paper we study up to which extent we can apply adiabatic control strategies to a quantum control model obtained by rotating wave approximation. In particular, we show that, under suitable assumptions on the asymptotic regime between the parameters characterizing the rotating wave and the adiabatic approximations, the induced flow converges to the one obtained by considering the two approximations separately and by combining them formally in cascade. As a consequence, we propose explicit control laws which can be used to induce desired populations transfers, robustly with respect to parameter dispersions in the controlled Hamiltonian.

preprint2021arXiv

Lie algebra for rotational subsystems of a driven asymmetric top

We present an analytical approach to construct the Lie algebra of finite-dimensional subsystems of the driven asymmetric top rotor. Each rotational level is degenerate due to the isotropy of space, and the degeneracy increases with rotational excitation. For a given rotational excitation, we determine the nested commutators between drift and drive Hamiltonians using a graph representation. We then generate the Lie algebra for subsystems with arbitrary rotational excitation using an inductive argument.

preprint2020arXiv

Complete Controllability Despite Degeneracy: Quantum Control of Enantiomer-Specific State Transfer in Chiral Molecules

We prove complete controllability for rotational states of an asymmetric top molecule belonging to degenerate values of the orientational quantum number M. Based on this insight, we construct a pulse sequence that energetically separates population initially distributed over degenerate M-states, as a precursor for orientational purification. Introducing the concept of enantio-selective controllability, we determine the conditions for complete enantiomer-specific population transfer in chiral molecules and construct pulse sequences realizing this transfer for population initially distributed over degenerate M-states. This degeneracy presently limits enantiomer-selectivity for any initial state except the rotational ground state. Our work thus shows how to overcome an important obstacle towards separating, with electric fields only, left-handed from right-handed molecules in a racemic mixture.

preprint2020arXiv

Fuller singularities for generic control-affine systems with an even number of controls

In this article we study how bad can be the singularities of a time-optimal trajectory of a generic control affine system. In the case where the control is scalar and belongs to a closed interval it was recently shown in [6] that singularities cannot be, generically, worse than finite order accumulations of Fuller points, with order of accumulation lower than a bound depending only on the dimension of the manifold where the system is set. We extend here such a result to the case where the control has an even number of scalar components and belongs to a closed ball.

preprint2020arXiv

Lyapunov characterization of uniform exponential stability for nonlinear infinite-dimensional systems

In this paper we deal with infinite-dimensional nonlinear forward complete dynamical systems which are subject to external disturbances. We first extend the well-known Datko lemma to the framework of the considered class of systems. Thanks to this generalization, we provide characterizations of the uniform (with respect to disturbances) local, semi-global, and global exponential stability, through the existence of coercive and non-coercive Lyapunov functionals. The importance of the obtained results is underlined through some applications concerning 1) exponential stability of nonlinear retarded systems with piecewise constant delays, 2) exponential stability preservation under sampling for semilinear control switching systems, and 3) the link between input-to-state stability and exponential stability of semilinear switching systems.

preprint2016arXiv

A characterization of switched linear control systems with finite L 2 -gain

Motivated by an open problem posed by J.P. Hespanha, we extend the notion of Barabanov norm and extremal trajectory to classes of switching signals that are not closed under concatenation. We use these tools to prove that the finiteness of the L2-gain is equivalent, for a large set of switched linear control systems, to the condition that the generalized spectral radius associated with any minimal realization of the original switched system is smaller than one.

preprint2016arXiv

Generic singularities of line fields on 2D manifolds

Generic singularities of line fields have been studied for lines of principal curvature of embedded surfaces. In this paper we propose an approach to classify generic singularities of general line fields on 2D manifolds. The idea is to identify line fields as bisectors of pairs of vector fields on the manifold, with respect to a given conformal structure. The singularities correspond to the zeros of the vector fields and the genericity is considered with respect to a natural topology in the space of pairs of vector fields. Line fields at generic singularities turn out to be topologically equivalent to the Lemon, Star and Monstar singularities that one finds at umbilical points.

preprint2016arXiv

Stability of non-autonomous difference equations with applications to transport and wave propagation on networks

In this paper, we address the stability of transport systems and wave propagation on networks with time-varying parameters. We do so by reformulating these systems as non-autonomous difference equations and by providing a suitable representation of their solutions in terms of their initial conditions and some time-dependent matrix coefficients. This enables us to characterize the asymptotic behavior of solutions in terms of such coefficients. In the case of difference equations with arbitrary switching, we obtain a delay-independent generalization of the well-known criterion for autonomous systems due to Hale and Silkowski. As a consequence, we show that exponential stability of transport systems and wave propagation on networks is robust with respect to variations of the lengths of the edges of the network preserving their rational dependence structure. This leads to our main result: the wave equation on a network with arbitrarily switching damping at external vertices is exponentially stable if and only if the network is a tree and the damping is bounded away from zero at all external vertices but at most one.

preprint2015arXiv

Controllability of spin-boson systems

In this paper we study the so-called spin-boson system, namely {a two-level system} in interaction with a distinguished mode of a quantized bosonic field. We give a brief description of the controlled Rabi and Jaynes--Cummings models and we discuss their appearance in the mathematics and physics literature. We then study the controllability of the Rabi model when the control is an external field acting on the bosonic part. Applying geometric control techniques to the Galerkin approximation and using perturbation theory to guarantee non-resonance of the spectrum of the drift operator, we prove approximate controllability of the system, for almost every value of the interaction parameter.

preprint2015arXiv

Sub-Finsler structures from the time-optimal control viewpoint for some nilpotent distributions

In this paper we study the sub-Finsler geometry as a time-optimal control problem. In particular, we consider non-smooth and non-strictly convex sub-Finsler structures associated with the Heisenberg, Grushin, and Martinet distributions. Motivated by problems in geometric group theory, we characterize extremal curves, discuss their optimality, and calculate the metric spheres, proving their Euclidean rectifiability.

preprint2013arXiv

Approximate controllability, exact controllability, and conical eigenvalue intersections for quantum mechanical systems

We study the controllability of a closed control-affine quantum system driven by two or more external fields. We provide a sufficient condition for controllability in terms of existence of conical intersections between eigenvalues of the Hamiltonian in dependence of the controls seen as parameters. Such spectral condition is structurally stable in the case of three controls or in the case of two controls when the Hamiltonian is real. The spectral condition appears naturally in the adiabatic control framework and yields approximate controllability in the infinite-dimensional case. In the finite-dimensional case it implies that the system is Lie-bracket generating when lifted to the group of unitary transformations, and in particular that it is exactly controllable. Hence, Lie algebraic conditions are deduced from purely spectral properties. We conclude the article by proving that approximate and exact controllability are equivalent properties for general finite-dimensional quantum systems.

preprint2013arXiv

Growth rates for persistently excited linear systems

We consider a family of linear control systems $\dot{x}=Ax+αBu$ where $α$ belongs to a given class of persistently exciting signals. We seek maximal $α$-uniform stabilisation and destabilisation by means of linear feedbacks $u=Kx$. We extend previous results obtained for bidimensional single-input linear control systems to the general case as follows: if the pair $(A,B)$ verifies a certain Lie bracket generating condition, then the maximal rate of convergence of $(A,B)$ is equal to the maximal rate of divergence of $(-A,-B)$. We also provide more precise results in the general single-input case, where the above result is obtained under the sole assumption of controllability of the pair $(A,B)$.

preprint2013arXiv

Multi-input Schrödinger equation: controllability, tracking, and application to the quantum angular momentum

We present a sufficient condition for approximate controllability of the bilinear discrete-spectrum Schrödinger equation exploiting the use of several controls. The controllability result extends to simultaneous controllability, approximate controllability in $H^s$, and tracking in modulus. The result is more general than those present in the literature even in the case of one control and permits to treat situations in which the spectrum of the uncontrolled operator is very degenerate (e.g. it has multiple eigenvalues or equal gaps among different pairs of eigenvalues). We apply the general result to a rotating polar linear molecule, driven by three orthogonal external fields. A remarkable property of this model is the presence of infinitely many degeneracies and resonances in the spectrum preventing the application of the results in the literature.

preprint2013arXiv

On some open questions in bilinear quantum control

The aim of this paper is to provide a short introduction to modern issues in the control of infinite dimensional closed quantum systems, driven by the bilinear Schrödinger equation. The first part is a quick presentation of some of the numerous recent developments in the fields. This short summary is intended to demonstrate the variety of tools and approaches used by various teams in the last decade. In a second part, we present four examples of bilinear closed quantum systems. These examples were extensively studied and may be used as a convenient and efficient test bench for new conjectures. Finally, we list some open questions, both of theoretical and practical interest.

preprint2013arXiv

On the controllability of quantum transport in an electronic nanostructure

We investigate the controllability of quantum electrons trapped in a two-dimensional device, typically a MOS field-effect transistor. The problem is modeled by the Schrödinger equation in a bounded domain coupled to the Poisson equation for the electrical potential. The controller acts on the system through the boundary condition on the potential, on a part of the boundary modeling the gate. We prove that, generically with respect to the shape of the domain and boundary conditions on the gate, the device is controllable. We also consider control properties of a more realistic nonlinear version of the device, taking into account the self-consistent electrostatic Poisson potential.

preprint2012arXiv

Controllability of the bilinear Schrödinger equation with several controls and application to a 3D molecule

We show the approximate rotational controllability of a polar linear molecule by means of three nonresonant linear polarized laser fields. The result is based on a general approximate controllability result for the bilinear Schrödinger equation, with wavefunction varying in the unit sphere of an infinite-dimensional Hilbert space and with several control potentials, under the assumption that the internal Hamiltonian has discrete spectrum.

preprint2012arXiv

On conditions for asymptotic stability of dissipative infinite-dimensional systems with intermittent damping

We study the asymptotic stability of a dissipative evolution in a Hilbert space subject to intermittent damping. We observe that, even if the intermittence satisfies a persistent excitation condition, if the Hilbert space is infinite-dimensional then the system needs not being asymptotically stable (not even in the weak sense). Exponential stability is recovered under a generalized observability inequality, allowing for time-domains that are not intervals. Weak asymptotic stability is obtained under a similarly generalized unique continuation principle. Finally, strong asymptotic stability is proved for intermittences that do not necessarily satisfy some persistent excitation condition, evaluating their total contribution to the decay of the trajectories of the damped system. Our results are discussed using the example of the wave equation, Schrödinger's equation and, for strong stability, also the special case of finite-dimensional systems.

preprint2011arXiv

A weak spectral condition for the controllability of the bilinear Schrödinger equation with application to the control of a rotating planar molecule

In this paper we prove an approximate controllability result for the bilinear Schrödinger equation. This result requires less restrictive non-resonance hypotheses on the spectrum of the uncontrolled Schrödinger operator than those present in the literature. The control operator is not required to be bounded and we are able to extend the controllability result to the density matrices. The proof is based on fine controllability properties of the finite dimensional Galerkin approximations and allows to get estimates for the $L^{1}$ norm of the control. The general controllability result is applied to the problem of controlling the rotation of a bipolar rigid molecule confined on a plane by means of two orthogonal external fields.

preprint2010arXiv

Lipschitz classification of almost-Riemannian distances on compact oriented surfaces

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--Caratheodory 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 analyse 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 labelled graph associated with it.

preprint2009arXiv

Generic controllability properties for the bilinear Schrödinger equation

In [15] we proposed a set of sufficient conditions for the approximate controllability of a discrete-spectrum bilinear Schrödinger equation. These conditions are expressed in terms of the controlled potential and of the eigenpairs of the uncontrolled Schrödinger operator. The aim of this paper is to show that these conditions are generic with respect to the uncontrolled and the controlled potential, denoted respectively by $V$ and $W$. More precisely, we prove that the Schrödinger equation is approximately controllable generically with respect to $W$ when $V$ is fixed and also generically with respect to $V$ when $W$ is fixed and non-constant. The results are obtained by analytic perturbation arguments and through the study of asymptotic properties of eigenfunctions.

preprint2009arXiv

Two-Dimensional Almost-Riemannian Structures with Tangency Points

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.

preprint2008arXiv

Controllability of the discrete-spectrum Schrodinger equation driven by an external field

We prove approximate controllability of the bilinear Schrödinger equation in the case in which the uncontrolled Hamiltonian has discrete non-resonant spectrum. 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 Galerkin 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, both controlled by suitable potentials.

preprint2007arXiv

Uniform stabilization for linear systems with persistency of excitation. The neutrally stable and the double integrator cases

Consider the controlled system $dx/dt = Ax + α(t)Bu$ where the pair $(A,B)$ is stabilizable and $α(t)$ takes values in $[0,1]$ and is persistently exciting, i.e., there exist two positive constants $μ,T$ such that, for every $t\geq 0$, $\int_t^{t+T}α(s)ds\geq μ$. In particular, when $α(t)$ becomes zero the system dynamics switches to an uncontrollable system. In this paper, we address the following question: is it possible to find a linear time-invariant state-feedback $u=Kx$, with $K$ only depending on $(A,B)$ and possibly on $μ,T$, which globally asymptotically stabilizes the system? We give a positive answer to this question for two cases: when $A$ is neutrally stable and when the system is the double integrator.

preprint2005arXiv

Stability of Planar Nonlinear Switched Systems

We consider the time-dependent nonlinear system $\dot q(t)=u(t)X(q(t))+(1-u(t))Y(q(t))$, where $q\in\R^2$, $X$ and $Y$ are two %$C^\infty$ smooth vector fields, globally asymptotically stable at the origin and $u:[0,\infty)\to\{0,1\}$ 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.