Analysis of finite element approximation and iterative methods for time-dependent Maxwell problems

In this dissertation we are concerned with the analysis of the finite element method for the time-dependent Maxwell interface problem when Nedelec and Raviart-Thomas finite elements are employed and preconditioning of the resulting linear system when implicit time schemes are used. We first investigate the finite element method proposed by Makridakis and Monk in 1995. After studying the regularity of the solution to time dependent Maxwell's problem and providing approximation estimates for the Fortin operator, we are able to give the optimal error estimate for the semi-discrete scheme for Maxwell's equations. Then we study preconditioners for linear systems arising in the finite element method for time-dependent Maxwell's equations using implicit time-stepping. Such linear systems are usually very large but sparse and can only be solved iteratively. We consider overlapping Schwarz methods and multigrid methods and extend some existing theoretical convergence results. For overlapping Schwarz methods, we provide numerical experiments to confirm the theoretical analysis

A Space-Time Discontinuous Galerkin Trefftz Method for time dependent Maxwell's equations

We consider the discretization of electromagnetic wave propagation problems by a discontinuous Galerkin Method based on Trefftz polynomials. This method fits into an abstract framework for space-time discontinuous Galerkin methods for which we can prove consistency, stability, and energy dissipation without the need to completely specify the approximation spaces in detail. Any method of such a general form results in an implicit time-stepping scheme with some basic stability properties. For the local approximation on each space-time element, we then consider Trefftz polynomials, i.e., the subspace of polynomials that satisfy Maxwell's equations exactly on the respective element. We present an explicit construction of a basis for the local Trefftz spaces in two and three dimensions and summarize some of their basic properties. Using local properties of the Trefftz polynomials, we can establish the well-posedness of the resulting discontinuous Galerkin Trefftz method. Consistency, stability, and energy dissipation then follow immediately from the results about the abstract framework. The method proposed in this paper therefore shares many of the advantages of more standard discontinuous Galerkin methods, while at the same time, it yields a substantial reduction in the number of degrees of freedom and the cost for assembling. These benefits and the spectral convergence of the scheme are demonstrated in numerical tests

Dispersive properties of high order nedelec/edge element approximation of the time-harmonic Maxwell equations

The dispersive behaviour of high-order Næ#169;dæ#169;lec element approximation of the time harmonic Maxwell equations at a prescribed temporal frequency ω on tensor-product meshes of size h is analysed. A simple argument is presented, showing that the discrete dispersion relation may be expressed in terms of that for the approximation of the scalar Helmholtz equation in one dimension. An explicit form for the one-dimensional dispersion relation is given, valid for arbitrary order of approximation. Explicit expressions for the leading term in the error in the regimes where ωh is small, showing that the dispersion relation is accurate to order 2p for a pth-order method; and in the high-wavenumber limit where 1«ωh, showing that in this case the error reduces at a super-exponential rate once the order of approximation exceeds a certain threshold, which is given explicitly