On the method of reflections

Abstract

This paper aims at reviewing and analysing the method of reflections, which is an iterative procedure designed for solving linear boundary value problems set in multiply connected domains. Being based on a decomposition of the domain boundary, this method is particularly well-suited to numerical solvers relying on boundary integral representation. For both the sequential and parallel forms of the method appearing in the literature, we interpret the procedure in terms of projection operators. Using a Hilbert space setting and orthogonality, we prove the unconditional convergence of the sequential form and propose a modification of the parallel one that makes it unconditionally converging. Several examples of boundary value problems that enter such a framework are given, an alternative proof of convergence is provided in a case which does not. A few numerical tests conclude the study.