A new alternating positive semidefinite splitting preconditioner for saddle point problems from time-harmonic eddy current models

Abstract

Based on the special positive semidefinite splittings of the saddle point matrix, we propose a new alternating positive semidefinite splitting (APSS) iteration method for the saddle point problem arising from the finite element discretization of the hybrid formulation of the time-harmonic eddy current problem. We prove that the new APSS iteration method is unconditionally convergent for both cases of the simple topology and the general topology. The new APSS matrix can be used as a preconditioner to accelerate the convergence rate of Krylov subspace methods. Numerical results show that the new APSS preconditioner is superior to the existing preconditioners.