arXiv subjects

Golo A. Wimmer

Publications and source records attributed to Golo A. Wimmer.

10 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

An Efficient Solver for Finite Element-based Constrained Transport in 3D Magnetohydrodynamics Applied to Magnetic Confinement Fusion

We present an efficient solver framework for the stiff magnetic wave coupling arising in resistive magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) on realistic tokamak geometries. The approach builds on an implicit-implicit (IMIM) time-splitting that separates fast magnetic waves and anisotropic heat transport from slower acoustic dynamics while retaining full coupling (Krzysik et al. 2026). Within this formulation, the magnetic wave subsystem appears as an anisotropic curl-curl operator, enabling the use of scalable auxiliary-space Maxwell (AMS) multigrid solvers. To exploit this structure at the discrete level, we employ curl-conforming finite element spaces for the magnetic field and design the velocity space to preserve the curl-curl structure induced by the Lorentz-force coupling. The resulting compatible discretization preserves the discrete magnetic divergence constraint while producing linear systems directly amenable to efficient AMS-based solvers. We demonstrate solver efficiency as well as the accuracy and stability of the resulting structure-preserving discretization on fully nonlinear three-dimensional tokamak test cases.

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arXiv2026

Broken-space Additive Schwarz Mass Inverse Approximations and (Block) Preconditioning

Finite-element mass matrix solves and approximate inverses arise often in explicit time integration as well as Schur-complement-based block preconditioning. A diagonal approximation of the mass matrix is cheap and widely used, but can be a poor approximation, particularly for high-order elements. This paper introduces a broken-space additive Schwarz (BRAS) mass inverse approximation, formed by applying exact element-local inverse mass matrices on the broken finite-element space and averaging the result back to the conforming space. The construction uses the same element matrices and local-to-global maps as standard mass assembly, has the same element-adjacency sparsity graph as the conforming mass matrix, and is symmetric positive definite for any conforming space, mesh geometry, and polynomial basis. We prove spectral bounds for the preconditioned mass matrix, and wide-ranging numerical experiments for $H^1$, $H(\operatorname{curl})$, and $H(\operatorname{div})$ finite elements on two- and three-dimensional simplicial meshes show that BRAS reduces spectral condition numbers, Krylov iterations, and solve times relative to diagonal preconditioning. For preconditioned conjugate gradient (CG), BRAS yields a 1.1--4.7$\times$ speedup over diagonal/Jacobi preconditioning across all cases tested over finite-element orders $p\in[1,4]$. Further, theory and numerical experiments show that in the block-preconditioning case, BRAS can improve Schur-complement approximations and reduce outer solve times. On mixed Poisson and biharmonic systems, BRAS yields a 1.5--3$\times$ speedup in time-to-solution over a standard diagonal-based preconditioning approach.

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arXiv2026

Algebraic Multigrid with Overlapping Schwarz Smoothers and Local Spectral Coarse Grids for Least Squares Problems

This paper develops a new algebraic multigrid (AMG) method for sparse least-squares systems of the form $A=G^TG$ motivated by challenging applications in scientific computing where classical AMG methods fail. First we review and relate the use of local spectral problems in distinct fields of literature on AMG, domain decomposition (DD), and multiscale finite elements. We then propose a new approach blending aggregation-based coarsening, overlapping Schwarz smoothers, and locally constructed spectral coarse spaces. By exploiting the factorized structure of $A$, we construct an inexpensive symmetric positive semidefinite splitting that yields local generalized eigenproblems whose solutions define sparse, nonoverlapping coarse basis functions. This enables a fully algebraic and naturally recursive multilevel hierarchy that can either coarsen slowly to achieve AMG-like operator complexities, or coarsen aggressively-with correspondingly larger local spectral problems-to ensure robustness on problems that cannot be solved by existing AMG methods. The method requires no geometric information, avoids global eigenvalue solves, and maintains efficient parallelizable setup through localized operations. Numerical experiments demonstrate that the proposed least-squares AMG-DD method achieves convergence rates independent of anisotropy on rotated diffusion problems and remains scalable with problem size, while for small amounts of anisotropy we obtain convergence and operator complexities comparable with classical AMG methods. Most notably, for extremely anisotropic heat conduction operators arising in magnetic confinement fusion, where AMG and smoothed aggregation fail to reduce the residual even marginally, our method provides robust and efficient convergence across many orders of magnitude in anisotropy strength.

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arXiv2025

Optimal transfer operators in algebraic two-level methods for nonsymmetric and indefinite problems

Consider an algebraic two-level method applied to the $n$-dimensional linear system $A \mathbf{x} = \mathbf{b}$ using fine-space preconditioner (i.e., ``relaxation'' or ``smoother'') $M$, with $M \approx A$, restriction and interpolation $R$ and $P$, and algebraic coarse-space operator ${A_c := R^*AP}$. Then, what are the the best possible transfer operators $R$ and $P$ of a given dimension $n_c < n$? Brannick et al. (2018) showed that when $A$ and $M$ are Hermitian positive definite (HPD), the optimal interpolation is such that its range contains the $n_c$ smallest generalized eigenvectors of the matrix pencil $(A, M)$. Recently, in Ali et al. (2025) we generalized this framework to the non-HPD setting, by considering both right (interpolation) and left (restriction) generalized eigenvectors of $(A, M)$ and defining corresponding nonsymmetric transfer operators $\{R_\#,P_\#\}$. Tight convergence bounds for $\{R_\#,P_\#\}$ are derived in spectral radius, as well as a proof of pseudo-optimality. Note, $\{R_\#,P_\#\}$ are typically complex valued, which is not practical for real-valued problems. Here we build on Ali et al. (2025), first characterizing all inner products in which the coarse-space correction defined by $\{R_\#,P_\#\}$ is orthogonal. We then develop tight two-level convergence bounds in these norms, and prove that the underlying transfer operators $\{R_\#,P_\#\}$ are genuinely optimal. As a special case, our theory both recovers and extends the HPD results from Brannick et al. (2018). Finally, we show how to construct optimal, real-valued transfer operators in the case of that $A$ and $M$ are real valued, but are not HPD. Numerical examples arising from discretized advection and wave-equation problems are used to verify and illustrate the theory.

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arXiv2024

An accurate SUPG-stabilized continuous Galerkin discretization for anisotropic heat flux in magnetic confinement fusion

We present a novel spatial discretization for the anisotropic heat conduction equation, aimed at improved accuracy at the high levels of anisotropy seen in a magnetized plasma, for example, for magnetic confinement fusion. The new discretization is based on a mixed formulation, introducing a form of the directional derivative along the magnetic field as an auxiliary variable and discretizing both the temperature and auxiliary fields in a continuous Galerkin (CG) space. Both the temperature and auxiliary variable equations are stabilized using the streamline upwind Petrov-Galerkin (SUPG) method, ensuring a better representation of the directional derivatives and therefore an overall more accurate solution. This approach can be seen as the CG-based version of our previous work (Wimmer, Southworth, Gregory, Tang, 2024), where we considered a mixed discontinuous Galerkin (DG) spatial discretization including DG-upwind stabilization. We prove consistency of the novel discretization, and demonstrate its improved accuracy over existing CG-based methods in test cases relevant to magnetic confinement fusion. This includes a long-run tokamak equilibrium sustainment scenario, demonstrating a 35% and 32% spurious heat loss for existing primal and mixed CG-based formulations versus 4% for our novel SUPG-stabilized discretization.

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arXiv2024

Multiscale approximation and two-grid preconditioner for extremely anisotropic heat flow

We consider anisotropic heat flow with extreme anisotropy, as arises in magnetized plasmas for fusion applications. Such problems pose significant challenges in both obtaining an accurate approximation as well in the construction of an efficient solver. In both cases, the underlying difficulty is in forming an accurate approximation of temperature fields that follow the direction of complex, non-grid-aligned magnetic fields. In this work, we construct a highly accurate coarse grid approximation using spectral multiscale basis functions based on local anisotropic normalized Laplacians. We show that the local generalized spectral problems yield local modes that align with magnetic fields, and provide an excellent coarse-grid approximation of the problem. We then utilize this spectral coarse space as an approximation in itself, and as the coarse-grid in a two-level spectral preconditioner. Numerical results are presented for several magnetic field distributions and anisotropy ratios up to $10^{12}$, showing highly accurate results with a large system size reduction, and two-grid preconditioning that converges in $O(1)$ iterations, independent of anisotropy.

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arXiv2024

A structure-preserving discontinuous Galerkin scheme for the Cahn-Hilliard equation including time adaptivity

We present a novel spatial discretization for the Cahn-Hilliard equation including transport. The method is given by a mixed discretization for the two elliptic operators, with the phase field and chemical potential discretized in discontinuous Galerkin spaces, and two auxiliary flux variables discretized in a divergence-conforming space. This allows for the use of an upwind-stabilized discretization for the transport term, while still ensuring a consistent treatment of structural properties including mass conservation and energy dissipation. Further, we couple the novel spatial discretization to an adaptive time stepping method in view of the Cahn-Hilliard equation's distinct slow and fast time scale dynamics. The resulting implicit stages are solved with a robust preconditioning strategy, which is derived for our novel spatial discretization based on an existing one for continuous Galerkin based discretizations. Our overall scheme's accuracy, robustness, efficient time adaptivity as well as structure preservation and stability with respect to advection dominated scenarios are demonstrated in a series of numerical tests.

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arXiv2024

A fast algebraic multigrid solver and accurate discretization for highly anisotropic heat flux I: open field lines

We present a novel solver technique for the anisotropic heat flux equation, aimed at the high level of anisotropy seen in magnetic confinement fusion plasmas. Such problems pose two major challenges: (i) discretization accuracy and (ii) efficient implicit linear solvers. We simultaneously address each of these challenges by constructing a new finite element discretization with excellent accuracy properties, tailored to a novel solver approach based on algebraic multigrid (AMG) methods designed for advective operators. We pose the problem in a mixed formulation, introducing the directional temperature gradient as an auxiliary variable. The temperature and auxiliary fields are discretized in a scalar discontinuous Galerkin space with upwinding principles used for discretizations of advection. We demonstrate the proposed discretization's superior accuracy over other discretizations of anisotropic heat flux, achieving error $1000\times$ smaller for anisotropy ratio of $10^9$, for $closed$ $field$ $lines$. The block matrix system is reordered and solved in an approach where the two advection operators are inverted using AMG solvers based on approximate ideal restriction (AIR), which is particularly efficient for upwind discontinuous Galerkin discretizations of advection. To ensure that the advection operators are non-singular, in this paper we restrict ourselves to considering open (acyclic) magnetic field lines for the linear solvers. We demonstrate fast convergence of the proposed iterative solver in highly anisotropic regimes where other diffusion-based AMG methods fail.

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arXiv2022

Structure preserving transport stabilized compatible finite element methods for magnetohydrodynamics

We present compatible finite element space discretizations for the ideal compressible magnetohydrodynamic equations. The magnetic field is considered both in div- and curl-conforming spaces, leading to a strongly or weakly preserved zero-divergence condition, respectively. The equations are discretized in space such that transfers between the kinetic, internal, and magnetic energies are consistent, leading to a preserved total energy. We also discuss further adjustments to the discretization required to additionally achieve magnetic helicity preservation. Finally, we describe new transport stabilization methods for the magnetic field equation which maintain the zero-divergence and energy conservation properties, including one method which also preserves magnetic helicity. The methods' preservation and improved stability properties are confirmed numerically using a steady state and a magnetic dynamo test case.

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arXiv2021

Energy conserving SUPG methods for compatible finite element schemes in numerical weather prediction

We present an energy conserving space discretisation based on a Poisson bracket that can be used to derive the dry compressible Euler as well as thermal shallow water equations. It is formulated using the compatible finite element method, and extends the incorporation of upwinding for the shallow water equations as described in Wimmer, Cotter, and Bauer (2019). While the former is restricted to DG upwinding, an energy conserving SUPG scheme for the (partially) continuous Galerkin thermal field space is newly introduced here. The energy conserving property is validated by coupling the Poisson bracket based spatial discretisation to an energy conserving time discretisation. Further, the discretisation is demonstrated to lead to an improved temperature field development with respect to stability when upwinding is included. An approximately energy conserving full discretisation with a smaller computational cost is also presented.

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