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We consider the problem of distributing two conducting materials with a prescribed volume ratio in a given domain so as to minimize the first eigenvalue of an elliptic operator with Dirichlet conditions. The gap between the two conductivities is assumed to be small (low contrast regime). For any geometrical configuration of the mixture, we provide a complete asymptotic expansion of the first eigenvalue. We then consider a relaxation approach to minimize the second order approximation with respect to the mixture. We present numerical simulations in dimensions two and three.

In this paper we study a linear inverse problem with a biological interpretation, which is modeled by a Fredholm integral equation of the first kind. When the kernel in the Fredholm equation is represented by step func- tions, we obtain identifiability, stability and reconstruction results. Further- more, we provide a numerical reconstruction algorithm for the kernel, whose main feature is that a non-regular mesh has to be used to ensure the invert- ibility of the matrix representing the numerical discretization of the system. Finally, a second identifiability result for a polynomial approximation of degree less than nine of the kernel is also established.