A full space-time convergence order analysis of operator splittings for linear dissipative evolution equations

The Douglas--Rachford and Peaceman--Rachford splitting methods are common choices for temporal discretizations of evolution equations. In this paper we combine these methods with spatial discretizations fulfilling some easily verifiable criteria. In the setting of linear dissipative evolution equations we prove optimal convergence orders, simultaneously in time and space. We apply our abstract results to dimension splitting of a 2D diffusion problem, where a finite element method is used for spatial discretization. To conclude, the convergence results are illustrated with numerical experiments

Hyperbolic-parabolic singular perturbation for Kirchhoff equations with weak dissipation

We consider Kirchhoff equations with a small parameter epsilon in front of the second-order time-derivative, and a dissipative term whose coefficient may tend to 0 as t -> + infinity (weak dissipation). In this note we present some recent results concerning existence of global solutions, and their asymptotic behavior both as t -> + infinity and as epsilon -> 0. Since the limit equation is of parabolic type, this is usually referred to as a hyperbolic-parabolic singular perturbation problem. We show in particular that the equation exhibits hyperbolic or parabolic behavior depending on the values of the parameters.Comment: 20 pages, 2 tables, 1 figure, conference paper (7th ISAAC congress, London 2009

The discrete energy method in numerical relativity: Towards long-term stability

The energy method can be used to identify well-posed initial boundary value problems for quasi-linear, symmetric hyperbolic partial differential equations with maximally dissipative boundary conditions. A similar analysis of the discrete system can be used to construct stable finite difference equations for these problems at the linear level. In this paper we apply these techniques to some test problems commonly used in numerical relativity and observe that while we obtain convergent schemes, fast growing modes, or ``artificial instabilities,'' contaminate the solution. We find that these growing modes can partially arise from the lack of a Leibnitz rule for discrete derivatives and discuss ways to limit this spurious growth.Comment: 18 pages, 22 figure

Operator splitting for dissipative delay equations

We investigate Lie-Trotter product formulae for abstract nonlinear evolution equations with delay. Using results from the theory of nonlinear contraction semigroups in Hilbert spaces, we explain the convergence of the splitting procedure. The order of convergence is also investigated in detail, and some numerical illustrations are presented.Comment: to appear in Semigroup Foru

Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics and Magnetohydrodynamics

This paper presents an overview and introduction to Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics and Magnetohydrodynamics in theory and in practice. Firstly, we give a basic grounding in the fundamentals of SPH, showing how the equations of motion and energy can be self-consistently derived from the density estimate. We then show how to interpret these equations using the basic SPH interpolation formulae and highlight the subtle difference in approach between SPH and other particle methods. In doing so, we also critique several `urban myths' regarding SPH, in particular the idea that one can simply increase the `neighbour number' more slowly than the total number of particles in order to obtain convergence. We also discuss the origin of numerical instabilities such as the pairing and tensile instabilities. Finally, we give practical advice on how to resolve three of the main issues with SPMHD: removing the tensile instability, formulating dissipative terms for MHD shocks and enforcing the divergence constraint on the particles, and we give the current status of developments in this area. Accompanying the paper is the first public release of the NDSPMHD SPH code, a 1, 2 and 3 dimensional code designed as a testbed for SPH/SPMHD algorithms that can be used to test many of the ideas and used to run all of the numerical examples contained in the paper.Comment: 44 pages, 14 figures, accepted to special edition of J. Comp. Phys. on "Computational Plasma Physics". The ndspmhd code is available for download from http://users.monash.edu.au/~dprice/ndspmhd