15,125 research outputs found
Computing with functions in spherical and polar geometries I. The sphere
A collection of algorithms is described for numerically computing with smooth
functions defined on the unit sphere. Functions are approximated to essentially
machine precision by using a structure-preserving iterative variant of Gaussian
elimination together with the double Fourier sphere method. We show that this
procedure allows for stable differentiation, reduces the oversampling of
functions near the poles, and converges for certain analytic functions.
Operations such as function evaluation, differentiation, and integration are
particularly efficient and can be computed by essentially one-dimensional
algorithms. A highlight is an optimal complexity direct solver for Poisson's
equation on the sphere using a spectral method. Without parallelization, we
solve Poisson's equation with million degrees of freedom in one minute on
a standard laptop. Numerical results are presented throughout. In a companion
paper (part II) we extend the ideas presented here to computing with functions
on the disk.Comment: 23 page
Hypercube matrix computation task
A major objective of the Hypercube Matrix Computation effort at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) is to investigate the applicability of a parallel computing architecture to the solution of large-scale electromagnetic scattering problems. Three scattering analysis codes are being implemented and assessed on a JPL/California Institute of Technology (Caltech) Mark 3 Hypercube. The codes, which utilize different underlying algorithms, give a means of evaluating the general applicability of this parallel architecture. The three analysis codes being implemented are a frequency domain method of moments code, a time domain finite difference code, and a frequency domain finite elements code. These analysis capabilities are being integrated into an electromagnetics interactive analysis workstation which can serve as a design tool for the construction of antennas and other radiating or scattering structures. The first two years of work on the Hypercube Matrix Computation effort is summarized. It includes both new developments and results as well as work previously reported in the Hypercube Matrix Computation Task: Final Report for 1986 to 1987 (JPL Publication 87-18)
A comparison of the finite difference and finite element methods for heat transfer calculations
The finite difference method and finite element method for heat transfer calculations are compared by describing their bases and their application to some common heat transfer problems. In general it is noted that neither method is clearly superior, and in many instances, the choice is quite arbitrary and depends more upon the codes available and upon the personal preference of the analyst than upon any well defined advantages of one method. Classes of problems for which one method or the other is better suited are defined
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