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Adaptive multilevel discretization in time and space for parabolic partial differential equations.
(1989)
The present paper developes an adaptive multilevel approach for parabolic PDE's - as a first step, for one linear scalar equation. Full adaptivity of the algorithm is conceptually realized by simultaneous multilevel discretization in both time and space. Thus the approach combines multilevel time discretization, better known as extrapolation methods, and multilevel finite element space discretization such as the hierarchical basis method. The algorithmic approach is theoretically backed by careful application of fundamental results from semigroup theory. These results help to establish the existence of asymptotic expansions (in terms of time-steps) in Hilbert space. Finite element approximation then leads to perturbed expansions, whose perturbations, however, can be pushed below a necessary level by means of an adaptive grid control. The arising space grids are not required to satisfy any quasi- uniformity assumption. Even though the theoretical presentation is independent of space dimension details of the algorithm and numerical examples are given for the 1-D case only. For the 1-D elliptic solver, which is used, an error estimator is established, which works uniformly well for a family of elliptic problems. The numerical results clearly show the significant perspectives opened by the new algorithmic approach.
In continuation of part I this paper develops a variable-order time discretization in Hilbert space based on a multiplicative error correction. Matching of time and space errors as explained in part I allows to construct an adaptive multilevel discretization of the parabolic problem. In contrast to the extrapolation method in time, which has been used in part I, the new time discretization allows to separate space and time errors and further to solve fewer elliptic subproblems with less effort, which is essential in view of the application to space dimension greater than one. Numerical examples for space dimension one are included which clearly indicate the improvement.
The Car-Parrinello (CP) approach to ab initio molecular dynamics serves as an approximation to time-dependent Born-Oppenheimer (BO) calculations. It replaces the explicit minimization of the energy functional by a fictitious Newtonian dynamics and therefore introduces an artificial mass parameter $\mu$ which controls the electronic motion. A recent theoretical investigation shows that the CP-error, i.e., the deviation of the CP--solution from the BO-solution {\em decreases} like $\mu^{1/2}$ asymptotically. Since the computational effort {\em increases} like $\mu^{-1/2}$, the choice of $\mu$ has to find a compromise between efficiency and accuracy. The asymptotical result is used in this paper to construct an easily implemented algorithm which automatically controls $\mu$: the parameter $\mu$ is repeatedly adapted during the simulation by choosing $\mu$ as large as possible while pushing an error measure below a user-given tolerance. The performance and reliability of the algorithm is illustrated by a typical example.
Using the full multigrid method {\em without} any coarse grid correction steps but with an a posteriori control of the number of smoothing iterations was shown by Bornemann and Deuflhard [1996] to be an optimal iteration method with respect to the energy norm. They named this new kind of multigrid iteration the {\em cascadic multigrid method}. However, numerical examples with {\em linear} finite elements raised serious doubts whether the cascadic multigrid method can be made optimal with respect to the {\em $L^2$-norm}. In this paper we prove that the cascadic multigrid method cannot be optimal for linear finite elements and show that the case might be different for higher order elements. We present a careful analysis of the two grid variant of the cascadic multigrid method providing a setting where one can understand the methodical difference between the cascadic multigrid method and the classical multigrid $V$-cycle almost immediately. As a rule of thumb we get that whenever the cascadic multigrid works the classical multigrid will work too but not vice versa.
The C-implementation of KASKADE, an adaptive solver for linear elliptic differential equations in 2D, is object of a set of numerical experiments to analyze the use of resources (time and memory) with respect to numerical accuracy. We study the dependency of the reliability, robustness, and efficiency of the program from the parameters controlling the algorithm.
This paper presents a mathematical derivation of a model for quantum-classical molecular dynamics (QCMD) as a {\em partial} classical limit of the full Schrödinger equation. This limit is achieved in two steps: separation of the full wavefunction and short wave asymptotics for its ``classical'' part. Both steps can be rigorously justified under certain smallness assumptions. Moreover, the results imply that neither the time-dependent self-consistent field method nor mixed quantum-semi-classical models lead to better approximations than QCMD since they depend on the separation step, too. On the other hand, the theory leads to a characterization of the critical situations in which the models are in danger of largely deviating from the solution of the full Schrödinger equation. These critical situations are exemplified in an illustrative numerical simulation: the collinear collision of an Argon atom with a harmonic quantum oscillator.
The interaction potential of molecular systems which are typically used in molecular dynamics can be split into two parts of essentially different stiffness. The strong part of the potential forces the solution of the equations of motion to oscillate on a very small time scale. There is a strong need for eliminating the smallest time scales because they are a severe restriction for numerical long-term simulations of macromolecules. This leads to the idea of just freezing the high frequency degrees of freedom (bond stretching and bond angles). However, the naive way of doing this via holonomic constraints is bound to produce incorrect results. The paper presents a mathematically rigorous discussion of the limit situation in which the stiffness of the strong part of the potential is increased to infinity. It is demonstrated that the average of the limit solution indeed obeys a constrained Hamiltonian system but with a {\em corrected soft potential}. An explicit formula for the additive potential correction is given and its significant contribution is demonstrated in an illustrative example. It appears that this correcting potential is definitely not identical with the Fixman-potential as was repeatedly assumed in the literature.
In molecular dynamics applications there is a growing interest in including quantum effects for simulations of larger molecules. This paper is concerned with {\em mixed quantum-classical} models which are currently discussed: the so-called QCMD model with variants and the time-dependent Born-Oppenheimer approximation. All these models are known to approximate the full quantum dynamical evolution---under different assumptions, however. We review the meaning of these assumptions and the scope of the approximation. In particular, we characterize those typical problematic situations where a mixed model might largely deviate from the full quantum evolution. One such situation of specific interest, a non-adiabatic excitation at certain energy level crossings, can promisingly be dealt with by a modification of the QCMD model that we suggest.
\noindent In molecular dynamics applications there is a growing interest in so-called {\em mixed quantum-classical} models. These models describe most atoms of the molecular system by the means of classical mechanics but an important, small portion of the system by the means of quantum mechanics. A particularly extensively used model, the QCMD model, consists of a {\em singularly perturbed}\/ Schrödinger equation nonlinearly coupled to a classical Newtonian equation of motion. This paper studies the singular limit of the QCMD model for finite dimensional Hilbert spaces. The main result states that this limit is given by the time-dependent Born-Oppenheimer model of quantum theory---provided the Hamiltonian under consideration has a smooth spectral decomposition. This result is strongly related to the {\em quantum adiabatic theorem}. The proof uses the method of {\em weak convergence} by directly discussing the density matrix instead of the wave functions. This technique avoids the discussion of highly oscillatory phases. On the other hand, the limit of the QCMD model is of a different nature if the spectral decomposition of the Hamiltonian happens not to be smooth. We will present a generic example for which the limit set is not a unique trajectory of a limit dynamical system but rather a {\em funnel} consisting of infinitely many trajectories.
We consider the approximate solution of selfadjoint elliptic problems in three space dimensions by piecewise linear finite elements with respect to a highly non-uniform tetrahedral mesh which is generated adaptively. The arising linear systems are solved iteratively by the conjugate gradient method provided with a multilevel preconditioner. Here, the accuracy of the iterative solution is coupled with the discretization error. as the performance of hierarchical bases preconditioners deteriorate in three space dimensions, the BPX preconditioner is used, taking special care of an efficient implementation. Reliable a-posteriori estimates for the discretization error are derived from a local comparison with the approximation resulting from piecewise quadratic elements. To illustrate the theoretical results, we consider a familiar model problem involving reentrant corners and a real-life problem arising from hyperthermia, a recent clinical method for cancer therapy.