On the theory of optimal processes

The theory of optimal processes is a recent mathematical formalism that is used to solve an important class of problems in science and in technology, that cannot be solved by classical variational techniques. An example of such processes would be the control of a nuclear reactor. Certain features of the theory of optimal processes are discussed, emphasizing the central contribution of Pontryagin with his formulation of the maximum principle. An application of the theory of optimum control is presented. The example is a time optimum problem applied to a simplified model of a nuclear reactor. It deals with the question of changing the equilibrium power level of the reactor in an optimum time