Numerical solution methods for fractional partial differential equations

Fractional partial differential equations have been developed in many different fields such as physics, finance, fluid mechanics, viscoelasticity, engineering and biology. These models are used to describe anomalous diffusion. The main feature of these equations is their nonlocal property, due to the fractional derivative, which makes their solution challenging. However, analytic solutions of the fractional partial differential equations either do not exist or involve special functions, such as the Fox (H-function) function (Mathai & Saxena 1978) and the Mittag-Leffler function (Podlubny 1998) which are diffcult to evaluate. Consequently, numerical techniques are required to find the solution of fractional partial differential equations. This thesis can be considered as two parts, the first part considers the approximation of the Riemann-Liouville fractional derivative and the second part develops numerical techniques for the solution of linear and nonlinear fractional partial differential equations where the fractional derivative is defied as a Riemann-Liouville derivative. In the first part we modify the L1 scheme, developed initially by Oldham & Spanier (1974), to develop the three schemes which will be defined as the C1, C2 and C3 schemes. The accuracy of each method is considered. Then the memory effect of the fractional derivative due to nonlocal property is discussed. Methods of reduction of the computation L1 scheme are proposed using regression approximations. In the second part of this study, we consider numerical solution schemes for linear fractional partial differential equations. Here the numerical approximation schemes are developed using an approximation of the fractional derivative and a spatial discretization scheme. In this thesis the L1, C1, C2, C3 fractional derivative approximation schemes, developed in the first part of the thesis, are used in conjunction with either the Centred-finite difference scheme, the Dufort-Frankel scheme or the Keller Box scheme. The stability of these numerical schemes are investigated via the technique of the Fourier analysis (Von Neumann stability analysis). The convergence of each the numerical schemes is also discussed. Numerical tests were used to conform the accuracy and stability of each proposed method. In the last part of the thesis numerical schemes are developed to handle nonlinear partial differential equations and systems of nonlinear fractional partial differential equations. We considered two models of a reversible reaction in the presence of anomalous subdiffusion. The Centred-finite difference scheme and the Keller Box methods are used to spatially discretise the spatial domain in these schemes. Here the L1 scheme and a modification of the L1 scheme are used to approximate the fractional derivative. The accuracy of the methods are discussed and the convergence of the scheme are demonstrated by numerical experiments. We also give numerical examples to illustrate the e�ciency of the proposed scheme

An implicit Keller Box numerical scheme for the solution of fractional subdiffusion equations

In this work, we present a new implicit numerical scheme for fractional subdiffusion equations. In this approach we use the Keller Box method [1] to spatially discretise the fractional subdiffusion equation and we use a modified L1 scheme (ML1), similar to the L1 scheme originally developed by Oldham and Spanier [2], to approximate the fractional derivative. The stability of the proposed method was investigated by using Von-Neumann stability analysis. We have proved the method is unconditionally stable when $0<{\lambda}_q <\min(\frac{1}{\mu_0},2^\gamma)$ and $0<\gamma \le 1$, and demonstrated the method is also stable numerically in the case $\frac{1}{\mu_0}<{\lambda}_q \le 2^\gamma$ and $\log_3{2} \le \gamma \le 1$. The accuracy and convergence of the scheme was also investigated and found to be of order $O(\Delta t^{1+\gamma})$ in time and $O(\Delta x^2)$ in space. To confirm the accuracy and stability of the proposed method we provide three examples with one including a linear reaction term

Numerical solution for diffusion equations with distributed order in time using a Chebyshev collocation method

In this work we present a new numerical method for the solution of the distributed order time fractional diffusion equation. The method is based on the approximation of the solution by a double Chebyshev truncated series, and the subsequent collocation of the resulting discretised system of equations at suitable collocation points. An error analysis is provided and a comparison with other methods used in the solution of this type of equation is also performed

Fractional Calculus and the Future of Science

Newton foresaw the limitations of geometry’s description of planetary behavior and developed fluxions (differentials) as the new language for celestial mechanics and as the way to implement his laws of mechanics. Two hundred years later Mandelbrot introduced the notion of fractals into the scientific lexicon of geometry, dynamics, and statistics and in so doing suggested ways to see beyond the limitations of Newton’s laws. Mandelbrot’s mathematical essays suggest how fractals may lead to the understanding of turbulence, viscoelasticity, and ultimately to end of dominance of the Newton’s macroscopic world view.Fractional Calculus and the Future of Science examines the nexus of these two game-changing contributions to our scientific understanding of the world. It addresses how non-integer differential equations replace Newton’s laws to describe the many guises of complexity, most of which lay beyond Newton’s experience, and many had even eluded Mandelbrot’s powerful intuition. The book’s authors look behind the mathematics and examine what must be true about a phenomenon’s behavior to justify the replacement of an integer-order with a noninteger-order (fractional) derivative. This window into the future of specific science disciplines using the fractional calculus lens suggests how what is seen entails a difference in scientific thinking and understanding

Psr1p interacts with SUN/sad1p and EB1/mal3p to establish the bipolar spindle

Regular Abstracts - Sunday Poster Presentations: no. 382During mitosis, interpolar microtubules from two spindle pole bodies (SPBs) interdigitate to create an antiparallel microtubule array for accommodating numerous regulatory proteins. Among these proteins, the kinesin-5 cut7p/Eg5 is the key player responsible for sliding apart antiparallel microtubules and thus helps in establishing the bipolar spindle. At the onset of mitosis, two SPBs are adjacent to one another with most microtubules running nearly parallel toward the nuclear envelope, creating an unfavorable microtubule configuration for the kinesin-5 kinesins. Therefore, how the cell organizes the antiparallel microtubule array in the first place at mitotic onset remains enigmatic. Here, we show that a novel protein psrp1p localizes to the SPB and plays a key role in organizing the antiparallel microtubule array. The absence of psr1+ leads to a transient monopolar spindle and massive chromosome loss. Further functional characterization demonstrates that psr1p is recruited to the SPB through interaction with the conserved SUN protein sad1p and that psr1p physically interacts with the conserved microtubule plus tip protein mal3p/EB1. These results suggest a model that psr1p serves as a linking protein between sad1p/SUN and mal3p/EB1 to allow microtubule plus ends to be coupled to the SPBs for organization of an antiparallel microtubule array. Thus, we conclude that psr1p is involved in organizing the antiparallel microtubule array in the first place at mitosis onset by interaction with SUN/sad1p and EB1/mal3p, thereby establishing the bipolar spindle.postprin

Removal of antagonistic spindle forces can rescue metaphase spindle length and reduce chromosome segregation defects

Regular Abstracts - Tuesday Poster Presentations: no. 1925Metaphase describes a phase of mitosis where chromosomes are attached and oriented on the bipolar spindle for subsequent segregation at anaphase. In diverse cell types, the metaphase spindle is maintained at a relatively constant length. Metaphase spindle length is proposed to be regulated by a balance of pushing and pulling forces generated by distinct sets of spindle microtubules and their interactions with motors and microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs). Spindle length appears important for chromosome segregation fidelity, as cells with shorter or longer than normal metaphase spindles, generated through deletion or inhibition of individual mitotic motors or MAPs, showed chromosome segregation defects. To test the force balance model of spindle length control and its effect on chromosome segregation, we applied fast microfluidic temperature-control with live-cell imaging to monitor the effect of switching off different combinations of antagonistic forces in the fission yeast metaphase spindle. We show that spindle midzone proteins kinesin-5 cut7p and microtubule bundler ase1p contribute to outward pushing forces, and spindle kinetochore proteins kinesin-8 klp5/6p and dam1p contribute to inward pulling forces. Removing these proteins individually led to aberrant metaphase spindle length and chromosome segregation defects. Removing these proteins in antagonistic combination rescued the defective spindle length and, in some combinations, also partially rescued chromosome segregation defects. Our results stress the importance of proper chromosome-to-microtubule attachment over spindle length regulation for proper chromosome segregation.postprin