differential-equations / Inverse problems; elliptic PDE

Calderon's uniqueness question for bounded measurable scalar conductivities in dimension three

Theorem 1.1: there are real γ0,γ1∈L∞(B(0,3))\gamma_0,\gamma_1\in L^\infty(B(0,3)) with c≤γj≤Cc\le\gamma_j\le C, both equal to 1 near the boundary, differing on a set of positive measure, whose full weak Dirichlet-to-Neumann operators H1/2→H−1/2H^{1/2}\to H^{-1/2} coincide. A corollary places 2m2^m such conductivities in any bounded Lipschitz domain in R3\mathbb R^3. The construction nests scalar blocks with toroidal interfaces. This refutes the uniqueness assertion quantified over all n≥3n\ge3. Not shown: counterexamples in each dimension n≥4n\ge4, control of the contrast, or anything about conductivities with some derivative regularity (where uniqueness is known).

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differential-equationsSep 23, 2026Significance 40/100Registry: lean checked

Calderon's uniqueness question for bounded measurable scalar conductivities in dimension three

Prior state unknown→disproved

Theorem 1.1: there are real γ0,γ1∈L∞(B(0,3))\gamma_0,\gamma_1\in L^\infty(B(0,3)) with c≤γj≤Cc\le\gamma_j\le C, both equal to 1 near the boundary, differing on a set of positive measure, whose full weak Dirichlet-to-Neumann operators H1/2→H−1/2H^{1/2}\to H^{-1/2} coincide. A corollary places 2m2^m such conductivities in any bounded Lipschitz domain in R3\mathbb R^3. The construction nests scalar blocks with toroidal interfaces. This refutes…

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Theorem 1.1: there are real γ0,γ1∈L∞(B(0,3))\gamma_0,\gamma_1\in L^\infty(B(0,3)) with c≤γj≤Cc\le\gamma_j\le C, both equal to 1 near the boundary, differing on a set of positive measure, whose full weak Dirichlet-to-Neumann operators H1/2→H−1/2H^{1/2}\to H^{-1/2} coincide. A corollary places 2m2^m such conductivities in any bounded Lipschitz domain in R3\mathbb R^3. The construction nests scalar blocks with toroidal interfaces. This refutes the uniqueness assertion quantified over all n≥3n\ge3. Not shown: counterexamples in each dimension n≥4n\ge4, control of the contrast, or anything about conductivities with some derivative regularity (where uniqueness is known).

Theorem 1.1: there are real γ0,γ1∈L∞(B(0,3))\gamma_0,\gamma_1\in L^\infty(B(0,3)) with c≤γj≤Cc\le\gamma_j\le C, both equal to 1 near the boundary, differing on a set of positive measure, whose full weak Dirichlet-to-Neumann operators H1/2→H−1/2H^{1/2}\to H^{-1/2} coincide. A corollary places 2m2^m such conductivities in any bounded Lipschitz domain in R3\mathbb R^3. The construction nests scalar blocks with toroidal interfaces. This refutes the uniqueness assertion quantified over all n≥3n\ge3. Not shown: counterexamples in each dimension n≥4n\ge4, control of the contrast, or anything about conductivities with some derivative regularity (where uniqueness is known).

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