Criteria for the approximation property for multigrid methods in nonnested spaces

We extend the abstract frameworks for the multigrid analysis for nonconforming finite elements to the case where the assumptions of the second Strang lemma are violated. The consistency error is studied in detail for finite element discretizations on domains with curved boundaries. This is applied to prove the approximation property for conforming elements, stabilized -elements, and nonconforming elements for linear elasticity on nonpolygonal domains.

     

On a characterization of finite vector bundles as vector bundles admitting a flat connection with finite monodromy group

We prove that a holomorphic vector bundle over a compact connected Kähler manifold admits a flat connection, with a finite group as its monodromy, if and only if there are two distinct polynomials and , with nonnegative integral coefficients, such that the vector bundle is isomorphic to . An analogous result is proved for vector bundles over connected smooth quasi-projective varieties, of arbitrary dimension, admitting a flat connection with finite monodromy group.

When the base space is a connected projective variety, or a connected smooth quasi-projective curve, the above characterization of vector bundles admitting a flat connection with finite monodromy group was established by M. V. Nori.

     

A family of higher order mixed finite element methods for plane elasticity

Summary The Dirichler problem for the equations of plane elasticity is approximated by a mixed finite element method using a new family of composite finite elements having properties analogous to those possessed by the Raviart-Thomas mixed finite elements for a scalar, second-order elliptic equation. Estimates of optimal order and minimal regularity are derived for the errors in the displacement vector and the stress tensor inL ²(), and optimal order negative norm estimates are obtained inH ^s () for a range ofs depending on the index of the finite element space. An optimal order estimate inL () for the displacement error is given. Also, a quasioptimal estimate is derived in an appropriate space. All estimates are valid uniformly with respect to the compressibility and apply in the incompressible case. The formulation of the elements is presented in detail.This work was performed while Professor Arnold was a NATO Postdoctoral Fellow     

On some vector lattices of operators and their finite elements

If the vector space of all regular operators between the vector lattices E and F is ordered by the collection of its positive operators, then the Dedekind completeness of F is a sufficient condition for to be a vector lattice. and some of its subspaces might be vector lattices also in a more general situation. In the paper we deal with ordered vector spaces of linear operators and ask under which conditions are they vector lattices, lattice-subspaces of the ordered vector space or, in the case that is a vector lattice, sublattices or even Banach lattices when equipped with the regular norm. The answer is affirmative for many classes of operators such as compact, weakly compact, regular AM-compact, regular Dunford-Pettis operators and others if acting between appropriate Banach lattices. Then it is possible to study the finite elements in such vector lattices , where F is not necessary Dedekind complete. In the last part of the paper there will be considered the question how the order structures of E, F and are mutually related. It is also shown that those rank one and finite rank operators, which are constructed by means of finite elements from E′ and F, are finite elements in . The paper contains also some generalization of results obtained for the case in [10].      

Centralizers of Iwahori-Hecke algebras

To date, integral bases for the centre of the Iwahori-Hecke algebra of a finite Coxeter group have relied on character theoretical results and the isomorphism between the Iwahori-Hecke algebra when semisimple and the group algebra of the finite Coxeter group. In this paper, we generalize the minimal basis approach of an earlier paper, to provide a way of describing and calculating elements of the minimal basis for the centre of an Iwahori-Hecke algebra which is entirely combinatorial in nature, and independent of both the above mentioned theories.

This opens the door to further generalization of the minimal basis approach to other cases. In particular, we show that generalizing it to centralizers of parabolic subalgebras requires only certain properties in the Coxeter group. We show here that these properties hold for groups of type and , giving us the minimal basis theory for centralizers of any parabolic subalgebra in these types of Iwahori-Hecke algebra.

     

The product replacement algorithm and Kazhdan's property (T)

The ``product replacement algorithm' is a commonly used heuristic to generate random group elements in a finite group , by running a random walk on generating -tuples of . While experiments showed outstanding performance, the theoretical explanation remained mysterious. In this paper we propose a new approach to the study of the algorithm, by using Kazhdan's property (T) from representation theory of Lie groups.

     

Biorthogonal bases with local support and approximation properties

We construct locally supported basis functions which are biorthogonal to conforming nodal finite element basis functions of degree in one dimension. In contrast to earlier approaches, these basis functions have the same support as the nodal finite element basis functions and reproduce the conforming finite element space of degree . Working with Gauß-Lobatto nodes, we find an interesting connection between biorthogonality and quadrature formulas. One important application of these newly constructed biorthogonal basis functions are two-dimensional mortar finite elements. The weak continuity condition of the constrained mortar space is realized in terms of our new dual bases. As a result, local static condensation can be applied which is very attractive from the numerical point of view. Numerical results are presented for cubic mortar finite elements.

     

Analysis of finite element approximation for time-dependent Maxwell problems

We provide an error analysis of finite element methods for solving time-dependent Maxwell problem using Nedelec and Thomas-Raviart elements. We study the regularity of the solution and develop some new error estimates of Nedelec finite elements. As a result, the optimal -error bound for the semidiscrete scheme is obtained.

     

On Finite Elements in Lattices of Regular Operators

Let E and F be vector lattices and the ordered space of all regular operators, which turns out to be a (Dedekind complete) vector lattice if F is Dedekind complete. We show that every lattice isomorphism from E onto F is a finite element in , and that if E is an AL-space and F is a Dedekind complete AM-space with an order unit, then each regular operator is a finite element in . We also investigate the finiteness of finite rank operators in Banach lattices. In particular, we give necessary and sufficient conditions for rank one operators to be finite elements in the vector lattice . A half year stay at the Technical University of Dresden was supported by China Scholarship Council.     

Approximation by quadrilateral finite elements

We consider the approximation properties of finite element spaces on quadrilateral meshes. The finite element spaces are constructed starting with a given finite dimensional space of functions on a square reference element, which is then transformed to a space of functions on each convex quadrilateral element via a bilinear isomorphism of the square onto the element. It is known that for affine isomorphisms, a necessary and sufficient condition for approximation of order in and order in is that the given space of functions on the reference element contain all polynomial functions of total degree at most . In the case of bilinear isomorphisms, it is known that the same estimates hold if the function space contains all polynomial functions of separate degree . We show, by means of a counterexample, that this latter condition is also necessary. As applications, we demonstrate degradation of the convergence order on quadrilateral meshes as compared to rectangular meshes for serendipity finite elements and for various mixed and nonconforming finite elements.

     

Korn's inequalities for piecewise vector fields

Korn's inequalities for piecewise vector fields are established. They can be applied to classical nonconforming finite element methods, mortar methods and discontinuous Galerkin methods.

     

Clusters, Coxeter-sortable elements and noncrossing partitions

We introduce Coxeter-sortable elements of a Coxeter group  For finite we give bijective proofs that Coxeter-sortable elements are equinumerous with clusters and with noncrossing partitions. We characterize Coxeter-sortable elements in terms of their inversion sets and, in the classical cases, in terms of permutations.

     

Superconvergence of quadratic finite elements on mildly structured grids

Superconvergence estimates are studied in this paper on quadratic finite element discretizations for second order elliptic boundary value problems on mildly structured triangular meshes. For a large class of practically useful grids, the finite element solution is proven to be superclose to the interpolant and as a result a postprocessing gradient recovery scheme for can be devised. The analysis is based on a number of carefully derived identities. In addition to its own theoretical interests, the result in this paper can be used for deriving asymptotically exact a posteriori error estimators for quadratic finite element methods.

     

Finite sums of commutators

We show that elements of unital -algebras without tracial states are finite sums of commutators. Moreover, the number of commutators involved is bounded, depending only on the given -algebra.

     

A new approach to standard monomial theory for classical groups

We describe a procedure for constructing monomial bases for finite dimensional irreducible representations of complex semisimple Lie algebras. A basis is calledmonomial if each of its elements is the result of applying to a (fixed) highest weight vector a monomial in the Chevalley basis elementsY , a simple root, in the opposite Borel subalgebra. As an immediate application we obtain a new proof of the main theorem of standard monomial theory for classical groups.     

A dual finite element complex on the barycentric refinement

Given a two dimensional oriented surface equipped with a simplicial mesh, the standard lowest order finite element spaces provide a complex centered on Raviart-Thomas divergence conforming vector fields. It can be seen as a realization of the simplicial cochain complex. We construct a new complex of finite element spaces on the barycentric refinement of the mesh which can be seen as a realization of the simplicial chain complex on the original (unrefined) mesh, such that the duality is non-degenerate on for each . In particular is a space of -conforming vector fields which is dual to Raviart-Thomas -conforming elements. When interpreted in terms of differential forms, these two complexes provide a finite-dimensional analogue of Hodge duality.

     

Fully commutative elements and Kazhdan-Lusztig cells in the finite and affine Coxeter groups

The main goal of the paper is to show that the fully commutative elements in the affine Coxeter group form a union of two-sided cells. Then we completely answer the question of when the fully commutative elements of form or do not form a union of two-sided cells in the case where is either a finite or an affine Coxeter group.