Mat-1.600 Laskennallisen tieteen ja tekniikan seminaari

25.11.2002  14.15  U356

Multigrid Methods for Maxwell Equations

Joachim Schöberl, Johannes Kepler Univeristy, Linz

Abstract. The Maxwell Equations describe electromagnetic field phenomena. We are interested in the time harmonic setting leading to variational problems in the function space H(curl). Proper finite elements due to Nedelec. The lowest order member of his family is the famous edge-element. Since many applications are real 3D problems, the arising matrix equations are usually huge. Thus, fast solvers are very important. Two approaches to multigrid methods (including analysis) are due to Hiptmair, and Arnold-Falk-Winther. In this talk, we present a theoretical tool, namely a Clement type quasi-interpolation operator for H(curl) allowing us to simplify and extend both multigrid theories. We discuss also extensions to higher order elements, and to anisotropic meshes. In many real life problems the coarsest mesh is already too fine for a direct solver. For such cases, algebraic multigrid provides an attractive alternative. We present a commuting AMG for H(curl) systems.