Abstract
We discuss the stability theory and numerical analysis of the Helmholtz equation with variable and possibly nonsmooth or oscillatory coefficients. Using the unique continuation principle and the Fredholm alternative, we first give an existence-uniqueness result for this problem, which holds under rather general conditions on the coefficients and on the domain. Under additional assumptions, we derive estimates for the stability constant (i.e., the norm of the solution operator) in terms of the data (i.e., PDE coefficients and frequency), and we apply these estimates to obtain a new finite element error analysis for the Helmholtz equation which is valid at a high frequency and with variable wave speed. The central role played by the stability constant in this theory leads us to investigate its behaviour with respect to coefficient variation in detail. We give, via a 1D analysis, an a priori bound with the stability constant growing exponentially in the variance of the coefficients (wave speed and/or diffusion coefficient). Then, by means of a family of analytic examples (supplemented by numerical experiments), we show that this estimate is sharp.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.