Unisolvence of Symmetric Node Patterns for Polynomial Spaces on the Simplex

Abstract

Finite elements with polynomial basis functions on the simplex with a symmetric distribution of nodes should have a unique polynomial representation. Unisolvence not only requires that the number of nodes equals the number of independent polynomials spanning a polynomial space of a given degree, but also that the Vandermonde matrix controlling their mapping to the Lagrange interpolating polynomials can be inverted. Here, a necessary condition for unisolvence is presented for polynomial spaces that have non-decreasing degrees when going from the edges and the various faces to the interior of the simplex. It leads to a proof of a conjecture on a necessary condition for unisolvence, requiring the node pattern to be the same as that of the regular simplex.