Numerical stability for finite difference approximations of Einstein's equations

We extend the notion of numerical stability of finite difference approximations to include hyperbolic systems that are first order in time and second order in space, such as those that appear in Numerical Relativity. By analyzing the symbol of the second order system, we obtain necessary and sufficient conditions for stability in a discrete norm containing one-sided difference operators. We prove stability for certain toy models and the linearized Nagy-Ortiz-Reula formulation of Einstein's equations. We also find that, unlike in the fully first order case, standard discretizations of some well-posed problems lead to unstable schemes and that the Courant limits are not always simply related to the characteristic speeds of the continuum problem. Finally, we propose methods for testing stability for second order in space hyperbolic systems.Comment: 18 pages, 9 figure

Structured populations with distributed recruitment: from PDE to delay formulation

In this work first we consider a physiologically structured population model with a distributed recruitment process. That is, our model allows newly recruited individuals to enter the population at all possible individual states, in principle. The model can be naturally formulated as a first order partial integro-differential equation, and it has been studied extensively. In particular, it is well-posed on the biologically relevant state space of Lebesgue integrable functions. We also formulate a delayed integral equation (renewal equation) for the distributed birth rate of the population. We aim to illustrate the connection between the partial integro-differential and the delayed integral equation formulation of the model utilising a recent spectral theoretic result. In particular, we consider the equivalence of the steady state problems in the two different formulations, which then leads us to characterise irreducibility of the semigroup governing the linear partial integro-differential equation. Furthermore, using the method of characteristics, we investigate the connection between the time dependent problems. In particular, we prove that any (non-negative) solution of the delayed integral equation determines a (non-negative) solution of the partial differential equation and vice versa. The results obtained for the particular distributed states at birth model then lead us to present some very general results, which establish the equivalence between a general class of partial differential and delay equation, modelling physiologically structured populations.Comment: 28 pages, to appear in Mathematical Methods in the Applied Science

Numerical solving unsteady space-fractional problems with the square root of an elliptic operator

An unsteady problem is considered for a space-fractional equation in a bounded domain. A first-order evolutionary equation involves the square root of an elliptic operator of second order. Finite element approximation in space is employed. To construct approximation in time, regularized two-level schemes are used. The numerical implementation is based on solving the equation with the square root of the elliptic operator using an auxiliary Cauchy problem for a pseudo-parabolic equation. The scheme of the second-order accuracy in time is based on a regularization of the three-level explicit Adams scheme. More general problems for the equation with convective terms are considered, too. The results of numerical experiments are presented for a model two-dimensional problem.Comment: 21 pages, 7 figures. arXiv admin note: substantial text overlap with arXiv:1412.570

On the fourth-order accurate compact ADI scheme for solving the unsteady Nonlinear Coupled Burgers' Equations

The two-dimensional unsteady coupled Burgers' equations with moderate to severe gradients, are solved numerically using higher-order accurate finite difference schemes; namely the fourth-order accurate compact ADI scheme, and the fourth-order accurate Du Fort Frankel scheme. The question of numerical stability and convergence are presented. Comparisons are made between the present schemes in terms of accuracy and computational efficiency for solving problems with severe internal and boundary gradients. The present study shows that the fourth-order compact ADI scheme is stable and efficient

The Construction of Finite Difference Approximations to Ordinary Differential Equations

Finite difference approximations of the form Σ^(si)_(i=-rj)d_(j,i)u_(j+i)=Σ^(mj)_(i=1) e_(j,if)(z_(j,i)) for the numerical solution of linear nth order ordinary differential equations are analyzed. The order of these approximations is shown to be at least r_j + s_j + m_j - n, and higher for certain special choices of the points Z_(j,i). Similar approximations to initial or boundary conditions are also considered and the stability of the resulting schemes is investigated