Characteristic mixed finite element approximation of transient convection diffusion optimal control problems

In this paper, we investigate a characteristic mixed finite element approximation of transient convection diffusion optimal control problems. The state and the adjoint state are approximated by characteristic mixed finite element method, while the control is discretized by standard finite element method. We derive the continuous and discrete first‐order optimality conditions and prove a priori error estimates for the state, the adjoint state and the control. Numerical examples are presented to illustrate the theoretical findings.