arXiv subjects

Ari Stern

Publications and source records attributed to Ari Stern.

31 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2016

The abstract Hodge-Dirac operator and its stable discretization

This paper adapts the techniques of finite element exterior calculus to study and discretize the abstract Hodge-Dirac operator, which is a square root of the abstract Hodge-Laplace operator considered by Arnold, Falk, and Winther [Bull. Amer. Math. Soc. 47 (2010), 281-354]. Dirac-type operators are central to the field of Clifford analysis, where recently there has been considerable interest in their discretization. We prove a priori stability and convergence estimates, and show that several of the results in finite element exterior calculus can be recovered as corollaries of these new estimates.

math.NA↗

arXiv2015

Banach space projections and Petrov-Galerkin estimates

We sharpen the classic a priori error estimate of Babuska for Petrov-Galerkin methods on a Banach space. In particular, we do so by (i) introducing a new constant, called the Banach-Mazur constant, to describe the geometry of a normed vector space; (ii) showing that, for a nontrivial projection $P$, it is possible to use the Banach-Mazur constant to improve upon the naive estimate $ \| I - P \| \leq 1 + \| P \| $; and (iii) applying that improved estimate to the Petrov-Galerkin projection operator. This generalizes and extends a 2003 result of Xu and Zikatanov for the special case of Hilbert spaces.

math.NA↗

arXiv2015

Symplectic groupoids and discrete constrained Lagrangian mechanics

In this article, we generalize the theory of discrete Lagrangian mechanics and variational integrators in two principal directions. First, we show that Lagrangian submanifolds of symplectic groupoids give rise to discrete dynamical systems, and we study the properties of these systems, including their regularity and reversibility, from the perspective of symplectic and Poisson geometry. Next, we use this framework -- along with a generalized notion of generating function due to Sniatycki and Tulczyjew -- to develop a theory of discrete constrained Lagrangian mechanics. This allows for systems with arbitrary constraints, including those which are non-integrable (in an appropriate discrete, variational sense). In addition to characterizing the dynamics of these constrained systems, we also develop a theory of reduction and Noether symmetries, and study the relationship between the dynamics and variational principles. Finally, we apply this theory to discretize several concrete examples of constrained systems in mechanics and optimal control.

math.SG↗

arXiv2015

Explicit formulas for reaction probability in reaction-diffusion experiments

A computational procedure is developed for determining the conversion probability for reaction-diffusion systems in which a first-order catalytic reaction is performed over active particles. We apply this general method to systems on metric graphs, which may be viewed as 1-dimensional approximations of 3-dimensional systems, and obtain explicit formulas for conversion. We then study numerically a class of 3-dimensional systems and test how accurately they are described by model formulas obtained for metric graphs. The optimal arrangement of active particles in a 1-dimensional multiparticle system is found, which is shown to depend on the level of catalytic activity: conversion is maximized for low catalytic activity when all particles are bunched together close to the point of gas injection, and for high catalytic activity when the particles are evenly spaced.

cond-mat.soft↗

arXiv2015

Maximum principles for the relativistic heat equation

The classical heat equation is incompatible with relativity, since the strong maximum principle allows for disturbances to propagate instantaneously. Some authors have proposed limiting the propagation speed by adding a linear hyperbolic correction term, but then even a weak maximum principle fails to hold. We study a more recently introduced relativistic heat equation, which replaces the Laplace operator by a quasilinear elliptic operator, and show that strong and weak maximum principles hold for stationary and time-varying solutions, respectively, as well as for sub- and supersolutions. Moreover, by transforming the equation into an equivalent form, related to the mean curvature operator, we prove even stronger tangency and comparison principles.

math.AP↗

arXiv2014

Modified trigonometric integrators

We study modified trigonometric integrators, which generalize the popular class of trigonometric integrators for highly oscillatory Hamiltonian systems by allowing the fast frequencies to be modified. Among all methods of this class, we show that the IMEX (implicit-explicit) method, which is equivalent to applying the midpoint rule to the fast, linear part of the system and the leapfrog (Störmer/Verlet) method to the slow, nonlinear part, is distinguished by the following properties: (i) it is symplectic; (ii) it is free of artificial resonances; (iii) it is the unique method that correctly captures slow energy exchange to leading order; (iv) it conserves the total energy and a modified oscillatory energy up to to second order; (v) it is uniformly second-order accurate in the slow components; and (vi) it has the correct magnitude of deviations of the fast oscillatory energy, which is an adiabatic invariant. These theoretical results are supported by numerical experiments on the Fermi-Pasta-Ulam problem and indicate that the IMEX method, for these six properties, dominates the class of modified trigonometric integrators.

math.NA↗

arXiv2011

L^p change of variables inequalities on manifolds

We prove two-sided inequalities for the $L^p$-norm of a pushforward or pullback (with respect to an orientation-preserving diffeomorphism) on oriented volume and Riemannian manifolds. For a function or density on a volume manifold, these bounds depend only on the Jacobian determinant, which arises through the change of variables theorem. For an arbitrary differential form on a Riemannian manifold, however, these bounds are shown to depend on more general "spectral" properties of the diffeomorphism, using an appropriately-defined notion of singular values. These spectral terms generalize the Jacobian determinant, which is recovered in the special cases of functions and densities (i.e., bottom and top forms).

math.DG↗

arXiv2011

Geometric variational crimes: Hilbert complexes, finite element exterior calculus, and problems on hypersurfaces

A recent paper of Arnold, Falk, and Winther [Bull AMS, 47 (2010)] showed that a large class of mixed finite element methods can be formulated naturally on Hilbert complexes, where using a Galerkin-like approach, one solves a variational problem on a finite-dimensional subcomplex. In a seemingly unrelated research direction, Dziuk [Lect Notes in Math, vol 1357 (1988)] analyzed a class of nodal finite elements for the Laplace-Beltrami equation on smooth 2-surfaces approximated by a piecewise-linear triangulation; Demlow later extended this analysis [SIAM J Numer Anal, 47 (2009)] to 3-surfaces, as well as to higher-order surface approximation. In this article, we bring these lines of research together, first developing a framework for the analysis of variational crimes in abstract Hilbert complexes, and then applying this abstract framework to the setting of finite element exterior calculus on hypersurfaces. Our framework extends the work of Arnold, Falk, and Winther to problems that violate their subcomplex assumption, allowing for the extension of finite element exterior calculus to approximate domains, most notably the Hodge-de Rham complex on approximate manifolds. As an application of the latter, we recover Dziuk's and Demlow's a priori estimates for 2- and 3-surfaces, demonstrating that surface finite element methods can be analyzed completely within this abstract framework. Moreover, our results generalize these earlier estimates dramatically, extending them from nodal finite elements for Laplace-Beltrami to mixed finite elements for the Hodge Laplacian, and from 2- and 3-dimensional hypersurfaces to those of arbitrary dimension. By developing this analytical framework using a combination of general tools from differential geometry and functional analysis, we are led to a more geometric analysis of surface finite element methods, whereby the main results become more transparent.

math.NA↗

arXiv2011

Semilinear mixed problems on Hilbert complexes and their numerical approximation

Arnold, Falk, and Winther recently showed [Bull. Amer. Math. Soc. 47 (2010), 281-354] that linear, mixed variational problems, and their numerical approximation by mixed finite element methods, can be studied using the powerful, abstract language of Hilbert complexes. In another recent article [arXiv:1005.4455], we extended the Arnold-Falk-Winther framework by analyzing variational crimes (a la Strang) on Hilbert complexes. In particular, this gave a treatment of finite element exterior calculus on manifolds, generalizing techniques from surface finite element methods and recovering earlier a priori estimates for the Laplace-Beltrami operator on 2- and 3-surfaces, due to Dziuk [Lecture Notes in Math., vol. 1357 (1988), 142-155] and later Demlow [SIAM J. Numer. Anal., 47 (2009), 805-827], as special cases. In the present article, we extend the Hilbert complex framework in a second distinct direction: to the study of semilinear mixed problems. We do this, first, by introducing an operator-theoretic reformulation of the linear mixed problem, so that the semilinear problem can be expressed as an abstract Hammerstein equation. This allows us to obtain, for semilinear problems, a priori solution estimates and error estimates that reduce to the Arnold-Falk-Winther results in the linear case. We also consider the impact of variational crimes, extending the results of our previous article to these semilinear problems. As an immediate application, this new framework allows for mixed finite element methods to be applied to semilinear problems on surfaces.

math.NA↗

arXiv2010

Discrete Hamilton-Pontryagin mechanics and generating functions on Lie groupoids

We present a discrete analog of the recently introduced Hamilton-Pontryagin variational principle in Lagrangian mechanics. This unifies two, previously disparate approaches to discrete Lagrangian mechanics: either using the discrete Lagrangian to define a finite version of Hamilton's action principle, or treating it as a symplectic generating function. This is demonstrated for a discrete Lagrangian defined on an arbitrary Lie groupoid; the often encountered special case of the pair groupoid (or Cartesian square) is also given as a worked example.

math.SG↗

arXiv2009

Geometric Computational Electrodynamics with Variational Integrators and Discrete Differential Forms

In this paper, we develop a structure-preserving discretization of the Lagrangian framework for electromagnetism, combining techniques from variational integrators and discrete differential forms. This leads to a general family of variational, multisymplectic numerical methods for solving Maxwell's equations that automatically preserve key symmetries and invariants. In doing so, we demonstrate several new results, which apply both to some well-established numerical methods and to new methods introduced here. First, we show that Yee's finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) scheme, along with a number of related methods, are multisymplectic and derive from a discrete Lagrangian variational principle. Second, we generalize the Yee scheme to unstructured meshes, not just in space but in 4-dimensional spacetime. This relaxes the need to take uniform time steps, or even to have a preferred time coordinate at all. Finally, as an example of the type of methods that can be developed within this general framework, we introduce a new asynchronous variational integrator (AVI) for solving Maxwell's equations. These results are illustrated with some prototype simulations that show excellent energy and conservation behavior and lack of spurious modes, even for an irregular mesh with asynchronous time stepping.

math.NA↗

arXiv2009

Implicit-Explicit Variational Integration of Highly Oscillatory Problems

In this paper, we derive a variational integrator for certain highly oscillatory problems in mechanics. To do this, we take a new approach to the splitting of fast and slow potential forces: rather than splitting these forces at the level of the differential equations or the Hamiltonian, we split the two potentials with respect to the Lagrangian action integral. By using a different quadrature rule to approximate the contribution of each potential to the action, we arrive at a geometric integrator that is implicit in the fast force and explicit in the slow force. This can allow for significantly longer time steps to be taken (compared to standard explicit methods, such as Störmer/Verlet) at the cost of only a linear solve rather than a full nonlinear solve. We also analyze the stability of this method, in particular proving that it eliminates the linear resonance instabilities that can arise with explicit multiple-time-stepping methods. Next, we perform some numerical experiments, studying the behavior of this integrator for two test problems: a system of coupled linear oscillators, for which we compare against the resonance behavior of the r-RESPA method; and slow energy exchange in the Fermi--Pasta--Ulam problem, which couples fast linear oscillators with slow nonlinear oscillators. Finally, we prove that this integrator accurately preserves the slow energy exchange between the fast oscillatory components, which explains the numerical behavior observed for the Fermi--Pasta--Ulam problem.

math.NA↗

arXiv2008

Variational Integrators for Maxwell's Equations with Sources

In recent years, two important techniques for geometric numerical discretization have been developed. In computational electromagnetics, spatial discretization has been improved by the use of mixed finite elements and discrete differential forms. Simultaneously, the dynamical systems and mechanics communities have developed structure-preserving time integrators, notably variational integrators that are constructed from a Lagrangian action principle. Here, we discuss how to combine these two frameworks to develop variational spacetime integrators for Maxwell's equations. Extending our previous work, which first introduced this variational perspective for Maxwell's equations without sources, we also show here how to incorporate free sources of charge and current.

math.NA↗