On uniqueness and stable estimation of multiple parameters in the Cahn–Hilliard equation

Abstract

Abstract We consider the identifiability and stable numerical estimation of multiple parameters in a Cahn–Hilliard model for phase separation. Spatially resolved measurements of the phase fraction are assumed to be accessible, with which the identifiability of single and multiple parameters up to certain scaling invariances is established. A regularized equation error approach is proposed for the stable numerical solution of the parameter identification problems, and convergence of the regularized approximations is proven under reasonable assumptions on the data noise. The viability of the theoretical results and the proposed methods is demonstrated in numerical tests.