A posteriori error estimates for semilinear optimal control problems

We devise and analyze a reliable and efficient a posteriori error estimator for a semilinear control-constrained optimal control problem in two and three dimensional Lipschitz, but not necessarily convex, polytopal domains. We consider a fully discrete scheme that discretizes the state and adjoint equations with piecewise linear functions and the control variable with piecewise constant functions. The devised error estimator can be decomposed as the sum of three contributions which are associated to the discretization of the state and adjoint equations and the control variable. We extend our results to a scheme that approximates the control variable with piecewise linear functions and also to a scheme that approximates a nondifferentiable optimal control problem. We illustrate the theory with two and three-dimensional numerical examples.