Several classes of optimal control of electromagnetic fields are considered. Special emphasis is
laid on a non-standard $H$-based formulation of the equations of electromagnetism in multiply connected conductors. By this technique, the Maxwell equations can be solved with reduced computational complexity. While the magnetic field $H$ in the conductor is obtained from an elliptic equation
with the $\curl \sigma^{-1} \curl$ operator, an elliptic equation with the $\div \mu \nabla$ operator is set up for a potential $\psi$ in the isolator.
Both equations are coupled by appropriate interface conditions. In all problems, the
electrical current is controlled in the conducting domain. Several types of control functions are discussed. In particular, the problem of sparse optimal control is investigated in a package of electrical wires. For all problems, the associated sensitivity
analysis is performed.
A mathematical model is set up that can be useful for controlled voltage excitation in time-dependent electromagnetism.
The well-posedness of the model is proved and an associated optimal control problem is investigated. Here, the control
function is a transient voltage and the aim of the control is the best approximation of desired electric and magnetic fields in
suitable $L^2$-norms.
Special emphasis is laid on an adjoint calculus for first-order necessary optimality conditions.
Moreover, a {peculiar attention is devoted to propose a formulation for which the computational complexity of the finite element solution method is substantially reduced}.