On the convergence of expansions in polyharmonic eigenfunctions

Abstract

We consider expansions of smooth, nonperiodic functions defined on compact intervals in eigenfunctions of polyharmonic operators equipped with homogeneous Neumann boundary conditions. Having determined asymptotic expressions for both the eigenvalues and eigenfunctions of these operators, we demonstrate how these results can be used in the efficient computation of expansions. Next, we consider the convergence. We establish the key advantage of such expansions over classical Fourier series–namely, both faster and higher-order convergence–and provide a full asymptotic expansion for the error incurred by the truncated expansion. Finally, we derive conditions that completely determine the convergence rate.