arXiv subjects

Martin Costabel

Publications and source records attributed to Martin Costabel.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

End-point non-regularity of the Dirichlet problem on Lipschitz domains -- An elementary proof

We construct a plane Lipschitz domain for which the range of the Laplace operator from $H^{3/2}\cap H^1_0$ to $H^{-1/2}$ is not closed. We show that rapid oscillations of the boundary create a boundary layer that leads to unbounded $H^{3/2}$ norm of the solution of the Dirichlet problem. Our proof is elementary in the sense that it is directly based on homogeneity arguments and does not use deep results of harmonic analysis such as estimates of area integrals or harmonic measures of Dahlberg or Jerison and Kenig.

math.AP↗

arXiv2025

Estimates for harmonic functions near pseudo-corners

It is well known that derivatives of solutions to elliptic boundary value problems may become unbounded near the corner of a domain with a conical singularity, even if the data are smooth. When the corner domain is approximated by more regular domains, then higher order Sobolev norms of the solutions on these domains can blow up in the limit. We study this blow-up in the simple example of the Laplace operator with Dirichlet conditions in two situations: The rounding of a corner in any dimension, and the two-dimensional situation where a polygonal corner is replaced by two or more corners with smaller angles. We show how an inner expansion derived from a more general recent result on converging expansions into generalized power series can be employed to prove simple and explicit estimations for Sobolev norms and singularity coefficients by powers of the approximation scale.

math.AP↗

arXiv2024

Dirichlet problem on perturbed conical domains via converging generalized power series

We consider the Poisson equation with homogeneous Dirichlet conditions in a family of domains in $R^{n}$ indexed by a small parameter $\epsilon$. The domains depend on $\epsilon$ only within a ball of radius proportional to $\epsilon$ and, as $\epsilon$ tends to zero, they converge in a self-similar way to a domain with a conical boundary singularity. We construct an expansion of the solution as a series of fractional powers of $\epsilon$, and prove that it is not just an asymptotic expansion as $\epsilon\to0$, but that, for small values of $\epsilon$, it converges normally in the Sobolev space $H^{1}$. The phenomenon that solutions to boundary value problems on singularly perturbed domains may have convergent expansions is the subject of the Functional Analytic Approach by Lanza de Cristoforis and his collaborators. This approach was originally adopted to study small holes shrinking to interior points of a smooth domain and heavily relies on integral representations obtained through layer potentials. To relax all regularity assumptions, we forgo boundary layer potentials and instead exploit expansions in terms of eigenfunctions of the Laplace-Beltrami operator on the intersection of the cone with the unit sphere. Our analysis is based on a two-scale cross-cutoff ansatz for the solution. Specifically, we write the solution as a sum of a function in the slow variable multiplied by a cutoff function depending on the fast variable, plus a function in the fast variable multiplied by a cutoff function depending on the slow variable. While the cutoffs are considered fixed, the two unknown functions are solutions to a $2\times2$ system of partial differential equations that depend on $\epsilon$ in a way that can be analyzed in the framework of generalized power series when the right-hand side of the Poisson equation vanishes in a neighborhood of the perturbation.

math.AP↗

arXiv2023

Convergence of a simple discretization of the finite Hilbert transformation

For a singular integral equation on an interval of the real line, we study the behavior of the error of a delta-delta discretization. We show that the convergence is non-uniform, between order $O(h^{2})$ in the interior of the interval and a boundary layer where the consistency error does not tend to zero.

math.NA↗

arXiv2023

Stability Analysis of a Simple Discretization Method for a Class of Strongly Singular Integral Equations

Motivated by the discrete dipole approximation (DDA) for the scattering of electromagnetic waves by a dielectric obstacle that can be considered as a simple discretization of a Lippmann-Schwinger style volume integral equation for time-harmonic Maxwell equations, we analyze an analogous discretization of convolution operators with strongly singular kernels. For a class of kernel functions that includes the finite Hilbert transformation in 1D and the principal part of the Maxwell volume integral operator used for DDA in dimensions 2 and 3, we show that the method, which does not fit into known frameworks of projection methods, can nevertheless be considered as a finite section method for an infinite block Toeplitz matrix. The symbol of this matrix is given by a Fourier series that does not converge absolutely. We use Ewald's method to obtain an exponentially fast convergent series representation of this symbol and show that it is a bounded function, thereby allowing to describe the spectrum and the numerical range of the matrix. It turns out that this numerical range includes the numerical range of the integral operator, but that it is in some cases strictly larger. In these cases the discretization method does not provide a spectrally correct approximation, and while it is stable for a large range of the spectral parameter $\lambda$, there are values of $\lambda$ for which the singular integral equation is well posed, but the discretization method is unstable.

math.NA↗

arXiv2020

Characterization of Sobolev spaces by their Fourier coefficients in axisymmetric domains

Using Fourier series representations of functions on axisymmetric domains, we find weighted Sobolev norms of the Fourier coefficients of a function that yield norms equivalent to the standard Sobolev norms of the function. This characterization is universal in the sense that the equivalence constants are independent of the domain. In particular it is uniform whether the domain contains a part of its axis of rotation or is disjoint from, but maybe arbitrarily close to, the axis. Our characterization using step-weighted norms involving the distance to the axis is different from the one obtained earlier in the book [Bernardi, Dauge, Maday "Spectral methods for axisymmetric domains", Gauthier-Villars, 1999], which involves trace conditions and is domain dependent. We also provide a complement for non cylindrical domains of the proof given in loc. cit. .

math.FA↗

arXiv2018

Maxwell eigenmodes in product domains

This paper is devoted to Maxwell modes in three-dimensional bounded electromagnetic cavities that have the form of a product of lower dimensional domains in some system of coordinates. The boundary conditions are those of the perfectly conducting or perfectly insulating body. The main case of interest is products in Cartesian variables. Cylindrical and spherical variables are also addressed. We exhibit common structures of polarization type for eigenmodes. In the Cartesian case, the cavity eigenvalues can be obtained as sums of Dirich-let or Neumann eigenvalues of positive Laplace operators and the corresponding eigenvectors have a tensor product form. We compare these descriptions with the spherical wave function Ansatz for a ball and show why the cavity eigenvalue of the ball are also Dirichlet or Neumann eigenvalues of some scalar operators. As application of our general formulas, we find explicit eigenpairs in a cuboid, in a circular cylinder, and in a cylinder with a coaxial circular hole. This latter example exhibit interesting '' TEM '' eigenmodes that have a one-dimensional vibrating string structure, and contribute to the least energy modes if the cylinder is long enough.

math-ph↗

arXiv2017

On the limit Sobolev regularity for Dirichlet and Neumann problems on Lipschitz domains

We construct a bounded $C^{1}$ domain $\Omega$ in $R^{n}$ for which the $H^{3/2}$ regularity for the Dirichlet and Neumann problems for the Laplacian cannot be improved, that is, there exists $f$ in $C^{\infty}(\overline\Omega)$ such that the solution of $\Delta u=f$ in $\Omega$ and either $u=0$ on $\partial\Omega$ or $\partial\_{n} u=0$ on $\partial\Omega$ is contained in $H^{3/2}(\Omega)$ but not in $H^{3/2+\varepsilon}(\Omega)$ for any $\epsilon>0$. An analogous result holds for $L^{p}$ Sobolev spaces with $p\in(1,\infty)$.

math.AP↗

arXiv2017

Converging expansions for Lipschitz self-similar perforations of a plane sector

In contrast with the well-known methods of matching asymptotics and multiscale (or compound) asymptotics, the " functional analytic approach " of Lanza de Cristoforis (Analysis 28, 2008) allows to prove convergence of expansions around interior small holes of size $ε$ for solutions of elliptic boundary value problems. Using the method of layer potentials, the asymptotic behavior of the solution as $ε$ tends to zero is described not only by asymptotic series in powers of $ε$, but by convergent power series. Here we use this method to investigate the Dirichlet problem for the Laplace operator where holes are collapsing at a polygonal corner of opening $ω$. Then in addition to the scale $ε$ there appears the scale $η= ε^{π/ω}$. We prove that when $π/ω$ is irrational, the solution of the Dirichlet problem is given by convergent series in powers of these two small parameters. Due to interference of the two scales, this convergence is obtained, in full generality, by grouping together integer powers of the two scales that are very close to each other. Nevertheless, there exists a dense subset of openings $ω$ (characterized by Diophantine approximation properties), for which real analyticity in the two variables $ε$ and $η$ holds and the power series converge unconditionally. When $π/ω$ is rational, the series are unconditionally convergent, but contain terms in log $ε$.

math.AP↗

arXiv2015

Continuity properties of the inf-sup constant for the divergence

The inf-sup constant for the divergence, or LBB constant, is explicitly known for only few domains. For other domains, upper and lower estimates are known. If more precise values are required, one can try to compute a numerical approximation. This involves, in general, approximation of the domain and then the computation of a discrete LBB constant that can be obtained from the numerical solution of an eigenvalue problem for the Stokes system. This eigenvalue problem does not fall into a class for which standard results about numerical approximations can be applied. Indeed, many reasonable finite element methods do not yield a convergent approximation. In this article, we show that under fairly weak conditions on the approximation of the domain, the LBB constant is an upper semi-continuous shape functional, and we give more restrictive sufficient conditions for its continuity with respect to the domain. For numerical approximations based on variational formulations of the Stokes eigenvalue problem, we also show upper semi-continuity under weak approximation properties, and we give stronger conditions that are sufficient for convergence of the discrete LBB constant towards the continuous LBB constant. Numerical examples show that our conditions are, while not quite optimal, not very far from necessary.

math.NA↗

arXiv2015

Inequalities of Babuška-Aziz and Friedrichs-Velte for differential forms

For sufficiently smooth bounded plane domains, the equivalence between the inequalities of Babu{\v s}ka --Aziz for right inverses of the divergence and of Friedrichs on conjugate harmonic functions was shown by Horgan and Payne in 1983 [7]. In a previous paper [4] we proved that this equivalence, and the equality between the associated constants, is true without any regularity condition on the domain. In three dimensions, Velte [9] studied a generalization of the notion of conjugate harmonic functions and corresponding generalizations of Friedrich's inequality, and he showed for sufficiently smooth simply-connected domains the equivalence with inf-sup conditions for the divergence and for the curl. For this equivalence, Zsupp{á}n [10] observed that our proof can be adapted, proving the equality between the corresponding constants without regularity assumptions on the domain. Here we formulate a generalization of the Friedrichs inequality for conjugate harmonic differential forms on bounded open sets in any dimension that contains the situations studied by Horgan--Payne and Velte as special cases. We also formulate the corresponding inf-sup conditions or Babu{\v s}ka --Aziz inequalities and prove their equivalence with the Friedrichs inequalities, including equality between the corresponding constants. No a-priori conditions on the regularity of the open set nor on its topology are assumed.

math.AP↗

arXiv2015

Volume integral equations for electromagnetic scattering in two dimensions

We study the strongly singular volume integral equation that describes the scattering of time-harmonic electromagnetic waves by a penetrable obstacle. We consider the case of a cylindrical obstacle and fields invariant along the axis of the cylinder, which allows the reduction to two-dimensional problems. With this simplification, we can refine the analysis of the essential spectrum of the volume integral operator started in a previous paper (M. Costabel, E. Darrigrand, H. Sakly: The essential spectrum of the volume integral operator in electromagnetic scattering by a homogeneous body, Comptes Rendus Mathematique, 350 (2012), pp. 193-197) and obtain results for non-smooth domains that were previously available only for smooth domains. It turns out that in the TE case, the magnetic contrast has no influence on the Fredholm properties of the problem. As a byproduct of the choice that exists between a vectorial and a scalar volume integral equation, we discover new results about the symmetry of the spectrum of the double layer boundary integral operator on Lipschitz domains.

math.AP↗

arXiv2014

The inf-sup constant for the divergence on corner domains

The inf-sup constant for the divergence, or LBB constant, is related to the Cosserat spectrum. It has been known for a long time that on non-smooth domains the Cosserat operator has a non-trivial essential spectrum, which can be used to bound the LBB constant from above. We prove that the essential spectrum on a plane polygon consists of an interval related to the corner angles and that on three-dimensional domains with edges, the essential spectrum contains such an interval. We obtain some numerical evidence for the extent of the essential spectrum on domains with axisymmetric conical points by computing the roots of explicitly given holomorphic functions related to the corner Mellin symbol. Using finite element discretizations of the Stokes problem, we present numerical results pertaining to the question of the existence of eigenvalues below the essential spectrum on rectangles and cuboids.

math.NA↗

arXiv2013

On the inequalities of Babu\v{s}ka-Aziz, Friedrichs and Horgan-Payne

The equivalence between the inequalities of Babu\v{s}ka-Aziz and Friedrichs for sufficiently smooth bounded domains in the plane has been shown by Horgan and Payne 30 years ago. We prove that this equivalence, and the equality between the associated constants, is true without any regularity condition on the domain. For the Horgan-Payne inequality, which is an upper bound of the Friedrichs constant for plane star-shaped domains in terms of a geometric quantity known as the Horgan-Payne angle, we show that it is true for some classes of domains, but not for all bounded star-shaped domains. We prove a weaker inequality that is true in all cases.

math.NA↗

arXiv2012

Primal and Shadow functions, Dual and Dual-Shadow functions for a circular crack and a circular 90 degree V-notch with Neumann boundary conditions

This report presents explicit analytical expressions for the primal, primal shadows, dual and dual shadows functions for the Laplace equation in the vicinity of a circular singular edge with Neumann boundary conditions on the faces that intersect at the singular edge. Two configurations are investigated: a penny-shaped crack and a 90^o V-notch.

math.NA↗

arXiv2012

Potential maps, Hardy spaces, and tent spaces on special Lipschitz domains

Suppose that $Ω$ is the open region in $\mathbb{R}^n$ above a Lipschitz graph and let $d$ denote the exterior derivative on $\mathbb{R}^n$. We construct a convolution operator $T $ which preserves support in $\bar{Ω$}, is smoothing of order 1 on the homogeneous function spaces, and is a potential map in the sense that $dT$ is the identity on spaces of exact forms with support in $\barΩ$. Thus if $f$ is exact and supported in $\barΩ$, then there is a potential $u$, given by $u=Tf$, of optimal regularity and supported in $\barΩ$, such that $du=f$. This has implications for the regularity in homogeneous function spaces of the de Rham complex on $Ω$ with or without boundary conditions. The operator $T$ is used to obtain an atomic characterisation of Hardy spaces $H^p$ of exact forms with support in $\barΩ$ when $n/(n+1)<p\leq1$. This is done via an atomic decomposition of functions in the tent spaces $\mathcal T^p(\mathbb{R}^n\times\mathbb{R}^+)$ with support in a tent $T(Ω)$ as a sum of atoms with support away from the boundary of $Ω$. This new decomposition of tent spaces is useful, even for scalar valued functions.

math.AP↗

arXiv2011

Shape derivatives of boundary integral operators in electromagnetic scattering. Part I: Shape differentiability of pseudo-homogeneous boundary integral operators

In this paper we study the shape differentiability properties of a class of boundary integral operators and of potentials with weakly singular pseudo-homogeneous kernels acting between classical Sobolev spaces, with respect to smooth deformations of the boundary. We prove that the boundary integral operators are infinitely differentiable without loss of regularity. The potential operators are infinitely shape differentiable away from the boundary, whereas their derivatives lose regularity near the boundary. We study the shape differentiability of surface differential operators. The shape differentiability properties of the usual strongly singular or hypersingular boundary integral operators of interest in acoustic, elastodynamic or electromagnetic potential theory can then be established by expressing them in terms of integral operators with weakly singular kernels and of surface differential operators.

math.NA↗

arXiv2011

Shape derivatives of boundary integral operators in electromagnetic scattering. Part II : Application to scattering by a homogeneous dielectric obstacle

We develop the shape derivative analysis of solutions to the problem of scattering of time-harmonic electromagnetic waves by a bounded penetrable obstacle. Since boundary integral equations are a classical tool to solve electromagnetic scattering problems, we study the shape differentiability properties of the standard electromagnetic boundary integral operators. The latter are typically bounded on the space of tangential vector fields of mixed regularity $TH\sp{-1/2}(\Div_{\Gamma},\Gamma)$. Using Helmholtz decomposition, we can base their analysis on the study of pseudo-differential integral operators in standard Sobolev spaces, but we then have to study the G\^ateaux differentiability of surface differential operators. We prove that the electromagnetic boundary integral operators are infinitely differentiable without loss of regularity. We also give a characterization of the first shape derivative of the solution of the dielectric scattering problem as a solution of a new electromagnetic scattering problem.

math.NA↗