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Washington University in St. Louis

Geometric Control of Ensemble Systems

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

Robust and sensorless manipulation of large populations of dynamical systems is prevalent in numerous research areas of science and engineering. Prominent examples range from excitations of spin ensembles in nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and imaging (MRI), and desynchronization of neuron ensembles for the treatment of neurological disorders, to approximate steering of robot swarm under bounded model perturbation. However, investigating fundamental properties of such ensemble systems remains a significant challenge, as it is beyond the scope of classical control theory. In this thesis, we study fundamental control problems associated with ensemble systems, including controllability analysis and control input design. In particular, we introduce the notion of ensemble controllability for parameterized populations of control systems and then focus on the investigation of ensemble controllability for linear and bilinear populations. Specifically, we exploit techniques from functional analysis, differential geometry, Lie theory, and symmetric group theory to establish necessary and sufficient conditions for ensemble controllability of linear and bilinear systems. Furthermore, such controllability analyses also inspire the design of control inputs for ensemble systems. In particular, we present a systematic method to construct optimal selective pulses for spin ensembles in MRI and also devise control laws to create synchronization patterns for noisy oscillatory networks.</p>

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Level thesis:degree_level
Dissertation
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Electrical & Systems Engineering
Year dc:date.available
2019

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Zhang, Wei
Contributors dc:contributor
  • Jr-Shin Li
  • Heinz Schaettler, Shen Zeng, Renato Feres, ShiNung Ching,

Subjects

dc:subject × 4

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • I have not registered my thesis with the U.S. Copyright Office, and do not intend to.
Language dc:language
English (en)

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:openscholarship.wustl.edu:eng_etds-1530

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Washington University in St. Louis
Base URL
openscholarship.wustl.edu/do/oai/
Last updated
2026-07-24
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Zhang, Wei. Geometric Control of Ensemble Systems. Dissertation thesis, 2019. https://doi.org/10.7936/jted-mm94