Spectral collocation method for compact integral operators

Abstract

We propose and analyze a spectral collocation method for integral equations with compact kernels, e.g. piecewise smooth kernels and weakly singular kernels of the form $\frac{1}{|t-s|^\mu}, \; 0\u3c\mu\u3c1.$ We prove that 1) for integral equations, the convergence rate depends on the smoothness of true solutions $y(t)$. If $y(t)$ satisfies condition (R): $\|y^{(k)}\|_{L^\infty[0,T]}\leq ck!R^{-k}$}, we obtain a geometric rate of convergence; if $y(t)$ satisfies condition (M): $\|y^{(k)}\|_{L^{\infty}[0,T]}\leq cM^k$, we obtain supergeometric rate of convergence for both Volterra equations and Fredholm equations and related integro differential equations; 2) for eigenvalue problems, the convergence rate depends on the smoothness of eigenfunctions. The same convergence rate for the largest modulus eigenvalue approximation can be obtained. Moreover, the convergence rate doubles for positive compact operators. Our numerical experiments confirm our theoretical results