Error Estimates and Superconvergence of Mixed Finite Element Methods for Optimal Control Problems with Low Regularity

Abstract

In this paper, we investigate the error estimates and superconvergence property of mixed finite element methods for elliptic optimal control problems. The state and co-state are approximated by the lowest order Raviart-Thomas mixed finite element spaces and the control variable is approximated by piecewise constant functions. We derive $L^2$ and $L^\infty$-error estimates for the control variable. Moreover, using a recovery operator, we also derive some superconvergence results for the control variable. Finally, a numerical example is given to demonstrate the theoretical results.