On linear monotone iteration and Schwarz methods for nonlinear elliptic PDEs

Summary The Schwarz Alternating Method can be used to solve elliptic boundary value problems on domains which consist of two or more overlapping subdomains. The solution is approximated by an infinite sequence of functions which results from solving a sequence of elliptic boundary value problems in each subdomain. In this paper, proofs of convergence of some Schwarz Alternating Methods for nonlinear elliptic problems which are known to have solutions by the monotone method (also known as the method of subsolutions and supersolutions) are given. In particular, an additive Schwarz method for scalar as well some coupled nonlinear PDEs are shown to converge to some solution on finitely many subdomains, even when multiple solutions are possible. In the coupled system case, each subdomain PDE is linear, decoupled and can be solved concurrently with other subdomain PDEs. These results are applicable to several models in population biology. This work was in part supported by a grant from the RGC of HKSAR, China (HKUST6171/99P)