arXiv subjects

Peter Monk

Publications and source records attributed to Peter Monk.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Analysis of a Conforming Finite Element Method for Second-Harmonic Generation Scattering

In the frequency domain, nonlinear acoustic and electromagnetic wave propagation can, in certain regimes, be modeled by second-harmonic generation systems consisting of two coupled nonlinear Helmholtz equations. We analyze a conforming finite element approximation of a scalar second-harmonic generation scattering problem truncated using an exact Dirichlet-to-Neumann boundary condition. The discretization uses continuous piecewise polynomial finite elements of degree $p$. Under small-data conditions involving the incident-field and nonlinear susceptibilities, we prove existence and uniqueness of the continuous and discrete nonlinear solutions in a prescribed small ball. In the same regime, we derive quasi-optimal a priori $H^1$-error estimates by a nonlinear C\'ea-type argument combining linear Galerkin quasi-optimality with small-data stability estimates for the coupled nonlinearities. We also analyze the convergence of the fixed-point iteration used to compute the discrete nonlinear solution and quantify the combined effects of finite element approximation and nonlinear iteration error. A manufactured-solution experiment illustrates the predicted finite element convergence rates, while additional PML-based scattering computations demonstrate the behavior of the nonlinear fixed-point solver in two and three dimensions.

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arXiv2025

Target Signatures for Anisotropic Screens in Electromagnetic Scattering

Anisotropic thin sheets of materials possess intriguing properties because of their ability to modify the phase, amplitude and polarization of incident waves. Such sheets are usually modeled by imposing transmission conditions of resistive or conductive type on a surface called a screen. We start by analyzing this model, and show that the standard passivity conditions can be slightly strengthened to provide conditions under which the forward scattering problem has a unique solution. We then turn to the inverse problem and suggest a target signature for monitoring such films. The target signature is based on a modified far field equation obtained by subtracting an artificial far field operator for scattering by a closed surface containing the thin sheet and parametrized by an artificial impedance. We show that this impedance gives rise to an interior eigenvalue problem, and these eigenvalues can be determined from the far field pattern, so functioning as target signatures. We prove uniqueness for the inverse problem, and give preliminary numerical examples illustrating our theory.

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arXiv2025

A Neural Network Enhanced Born Approximation for Inverse Scattering

Time-harmonic acoustic inverse scattering concerns the ill-posed and nonlinear problem of determining the refractive index of an inaccessible, penetrable scatterer based on far field wave scattering data. When the scattering is weak, the regularized inverse Born approximation provides a linearized model for recovering the shape and material properties of a scatterer. We propose two convolutional neural network (CNN) algorithms to correct the traditional inverse Born approximation even when the scattering is not weak. These are denoted Born-CNN (BCNN) and CNN-Born (CNNB). BCNN applies a post-correction to the Born reconstruction, while CNNB pre-corrects the data. Both methods leverage the Born approximation's excellent fidelity in weak scattering, while extending its applicability beyond its theoretical limits. CNNB particularly exhibits a strong generalization to more complex out of distribution scatterers. Based on numerical tests and benchmarking against other standard approaches, our corrected Born models provide alternative data-driven methods for obtaining the refractive index, extending the utility of the Born approximation to regimes where the traditional method fails.

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arXiv2024

Trefftz Discontinuous Galerkin approximation of an acoustic waveguide

We propose a modified Trefftz Discontinuous Galerkin (TDG) method for approximating a time-harmonic acoustic scattering problem in an infinitely elongated waveguide. In the waveguide we suppose there is a bounded, penetrable and possibly absorbing scatterer. The classical TDG is not applicable to this important case. Novel features of our modified TDG method are that it is applicable when the scatterer is absorbing, and it uses a stable treatment of the asymptotic radiation condition for the scattered field. For the modified TDG, we prove $h$ and $p$-convergence in the $L^2$ norm. The theoretical results are verified numerically for a discretization based on plane waves (that may be evanescent in the scatterer).

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arXiv2023

A High-Order Ultra-Weak Variational Formulation for Electromagnetic Waves Utilizing Curved Elements

The Ultra Weak Variational Formulation (UWVF) is a special Trefftz discontinuous Galerkin method, here applied to the time-harmonic Maxwell's equations. The method uses superpositions of plane waves to represent solutions element-wise on a finite element mesh. We focus on our parallel UWVF implementation, called ParMax, emphasizing high-order solutions in the presence of scatterers with piecewise smooth boundaries. We explain the incorporation of curved surface triangles into the UWVF, necessitating quadrature for system matrix assembly. We also show how to implement a total field and scattered field approach, together with the transmission conditions across an interface to handle resistive sheets. We note also that a wide variety of element shapes can be used, that the elements can be large compared to the wavelength of the radiation, and that a low memory version is easy to implement (although computationally costly). Our contributions are illustrated through numerical examples demonstrating the efficiency enhancement achieved by curved elements in the UWVF. The method accurately handles resistive screens, as well as perfect electric conductor and penetrable scatterers. By employing large curved elements and the low memory approach, we successfully simulated X-band frequency scattering from an aircraft. These innovations demonstrate the practicality of the UWVF for industrial applications.

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arXiv2023

On the analysis of waveguide modes in an electromagnetic transmission line

Modal expansions are useful to understand wave propagation in an infinite electromagnetic transmission line or waveguide. They can also be used to construct generalized Dirichlet-to-Neumann maps that can be used to provide artificial boundary conditions for truncating a computational domain when discretizing the field by finite elements. The modes of a waveguide arise as eigenfunctions of a non-symmetric eigenvalue problem, and the eigenvalues determine the propagation (or decay) of the modes along the waveguide. For the successful use of waveguide modes, it is necessary to know that the modes exist and form a dense set in a suitable function space containing the trace of the electric field in the waveguide. This paper is devoted to proving such a density result using the methods of Keldysh. We also show that the modes satisfy a useful orthogonality property, and show how the Dirichlet-to-Neumann map can be calculated. Our existence and density results are proved under realistic regularity assumptions on the cross section of the waveguide, and the electromagnetic properties of the materials in the waveguide, so generalizing existing results.

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arXiv2022

A Spectral Target Signature for Thin Surfaces with Higher Order Jump Conditions

In this paper we consider the inverse problem of determining structural properties of a thin anisotropic and dissipative inhomogeneity in ${\mathbb R}^m$, $m=2,3$ from scattering data. In the asymptotic limit as the thickness goes to zero, the thin inhomogeneity is modeled by an open $m-1$ dimensional manifold (here referred to as screen), and the field inside is replaced by jump conditions on the total field involving a second order surface differential operator. We show that all the surface coefficients (possibly matrix valued and complex) are uniquely determined from far field patterns of the scattered fields due to infinitely many incident plane waves at a fixed frequency. Then we introduce a target signature characterized by a novel eigenvalue problem such that the eigenvalues can be determined from measured scattering data, adapting the approach in \cite{Screens}. Changes in the measured eigenvalues are used to identified changes in the coefficients without making use of the governing equations that model the healthy screen. In our investigation the shape of the screen is known, since it represents the object being evaluated. We present some preliminary numerical results indicating the validity of our inversion approach.

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arXiv2021

Sharp $L^\infty$ estimates of HDG methods for Poisson equation II: 3D

In [SIAM J. Numer. Anal., 59 (2), 720-745], we proved quasi-optimal $L^\infty$ estimates (up to logarithmic factors) for the solution of Poisson's equation by a hybridizable discontinuous Galerkin (HDG) method. However, the estimates only work in 2D. In this paper, we obtain sharp (without logarithmic factors) $L^\infty$ estimates for the HDG method in both 2D and 3D. Numerical experiments are presented to confirm our theoretical result.

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arXiv2021

The Time Domain Linear Sampling Method for determining the shape of multiple scatterers using electromagnetic waves

The time domain linear sampling method (TD-LSM) solves inverse scattering problems using time domain data by creating an indicator function for the support of the unknown scatterer. It involves only solving a linear integral equation called the near-field equation using different data from sampling points that probe the domain where the scatterer is located. To date, the method has been used for the acoustic wave equation and has been tested for several different types of scatterers, i.e. sound hard, impedance, and penetrable, and for waveguides. In this paper, we extend the TD-LSM to the time dependent Maxwell's system with impedance boundary conditions - a similar analysis handles the case of a perfect electric conductor (PEC). We provide an analysis that supports the use of the TD-LSM for this problem, and preliminary numerical tests of the algorithm. Our analysis relies on the Laplace transform approach previously used for the acoustic wave equation. This is the first application of the TD-LSM in electromagnetism.

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arXiv2021

Target signatures for thin surfaces

We investigate an inverse scattering problem for a thin inhomogeneous scatterer in R^m, m = 2,3, which we model as a m-1 dimensional open surface. The scatterer is referred to as a screen. The goal is to design target signatures that are computable from scattering data in order to detect changes in the material properties of the screen. This target signature is characterized by a mixed Steklov eigenvalue problem for a domain whose boundary contains the screen. We show that the corresponding eigenvalues can be determined from appropriately modified scattering data by using the generalized linear sampling method. A weaker justification is provided for the classical linear sampling method. Numerical experiments are presented to support our theoretical results.

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arXiv2021

Impedance eigenvalues in linear elasticity

This paper is devoted to studying impedance eigenvalues (that is, eigenvalues of a particular Dirichlet-to-Neumann map) for the time harmonic linear elastic wave problem, and their potential use as target-signatures for fluid-solid interaction problems. We first consider several possible families of eigenvalues of the elasticity problem, focusing on certain impedance eigenvalues that are an analogue of Steklov eigenvalues. We show that one of these families arises naturally in inverse scattering. We also analyse their approximation from far field measurements of the scattered pressure field in the fluid, and illustrate several alternative methods of approximation in the case of an isotropic elastic disk.

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arXiv2020

Modified electromagnetic transmission eigenvalues in inverse scattering theory

A recent problem of interest in inverse problems has been the study of eigenvalue problems arising from scattering theory and their potential use as target signatures in nondestructive testing of materials. Towards this pursuit we introduce a new eigenvalue problem related to Maxwell's equations that is generated from a comparison of measured scattering data to that of a non-standard auxiliary scattering problem. This choice of auxiliary problem permits the application of regularity results for Maxwell's equations in order to show that a related interior transmission problem possesses the Fredholm property, which is used to establish that the eigenvalues are discrete. We investigate the properties of this new class of eigenvalues and show that the eigenvalues may be determined from measured scattering data, concluding with a simple demonstration of this fact.

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arXiv2020

$L^\infty$ norm error estimates for HDG methods applied to the Poisson equation with an application to the Dirichlet boundary control problem

We prove quasi-optimal $L^\infty$ norm error estimates (up to logarithmic factors) for the solution of Poisson's problem by the standard Hybridizable Discontinuous Galerkin (HDG) method. Although such estimates are available for conforming and mixed finite element methods, this is the first proof for HDG. The method of proof is motivated by known $L^\infty$ norm estimates for mixed finite elements. We show two applications: the first is to prove optimal convergence rates for boundary flux estimates, and the second is to prove that numerically observed convergence rates for the solution of a Dirichlet boundary control problem are to be expected theoretically. Numerical examples show that the predicted rates are seen in practice.

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arXiv2020

HDG and CG methods for the Indefinite Time-Harmonic Maxwell's Equations under minimal regularity

We propose to use a hybridizable discontinuous Galerkin (HDG) method combined with the continuous Galerkin (CG) method to approximate Maxwell's equations. We make two contributions in this paper. First, even though there are many papers using HDG methods to approximate Maxwell's equations, to our knowledge they all assume that the coefficients are smooth (or constant). Here, we derive optimal convergence estimates for our HGD-CG approximation when the electromagnetic coefficients are {\em piecewise} smooth. This requires new techniques of analysis. Second, we use CG elements to approximate the Lagrange multiplier used to enforce the divergence condition and we obtain a discrete system in which we can decouple the discrete the Lagrange multiplier. Because we are using a continuous Lagrange multiplier space, the number of degrees of freedom devoted to this are less than for other HDG methods. We present numerical experiments to confirm our theoretical results.

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arXiv2019

Finite Element Methods for Maxwell's Equations

We survey finite element methods for approximating the time harmonic Maxwell equations. We concentrate on comparing error estimates for problems with spatially varying coefficients. For the conforming edge finite element methods, such estimates allow, at least, piecewise smooth coefficients. But for Discontinuous Galerkin (DG) methods, the state of the art of error analysis is less advanced (we consider three DG families of methods: Interior Penalty type, Hybridizable DG, and Trefftz type methods). Nevertheless, DG methods offer significant potential advantages compared to conforming methods.

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arXiv2019

Coupled Optoelectronic Simulation and Optimization of Thin-Film Photovoltaic Solar Cells

A design tool was formulated for optimizing the efficiency of inorganic, thin-film, photovoltaic solar cells. The solar cell can have multiple semiconductor layers in addition to antireflection coatings, passivation layers, and buffer layers. The solar cell is backed by a metallic grating which is periodic along a fixed direction. The rigorous coupled-wave approach is used to calculate the electron-hole-pair generation rate. The hybridizable discontinuous Galerkin method is used to solve the drift-diffusion equations that govern charge-carrier transport in the semiconductor layers. The chief output is the solar-cell efficiency which is maximized using the differential evolution algorithm to determine the optimal dimensions and bandgaps of the semiconductor layers.

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arXiv2019

Superconvergent HDG methods for Maxwell's equations via the $M$-decomposition

The concept of the $M$-decomposition was introduced by Cockburn et al.\ in Math. Comp.\ vol.\ 86 (2017), pp.\ 1609-1641 {to provide criteria to guarantee optimal convergence rates for the Hybridizable Discontinuous Galerkin (HDG) method for coercive elliptic problems}. In that paper they systematically constructed superconvergent hybridizable discontinuous Galerkin (HDG) methods to approximate the solutions of elliptic PDEs on unstructured meshes. In this paper, we use the $M$-decomposition to construct HDG methods for the Maxwell's equations on unstructured meshes in two dimension. In particular, we show the any choice of spaces having an $M$-decomposition, together with sufficiently rich auxiliary spaces, has an optimal error estimate and superconvergence even though the problem is not in general coercive. Unlike the elliptic case, we obtain a superconvergent rate for the curl of the solution, not the solution, and this is confirmed by our numerical experiments.

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arXiv2018

An HDG Method for Time-dependent Drift-Diffusion Model of Semiconductor Devices

We propose a hybridizable discontinuous Galerkin (HDG) finite element method to approximate the solution of the time dependent drift-diffusion problem. This system involves a nonlinear convection diffusion equation for the electron concentration $u$ coupled to a linear Poisson problem for the the electric potential $\phi$. The non-linearity in this system is the product of the $\nabla \phi$ with $u$. An improper choice of a numerical scheme can reduce the convergence rate. To obtain optimal HDG error estimates for $\phi$, $u$ and their gradients, we utilize two different HDG schemes to discretize the nonlinear convection diffusion equation and the Poisson equation. We prove optimal order error estimates for the semidiscrete problem. We also present numerical experiments to support our theoretical results.

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