On the Convergence Theory of Preconditioned Subspace Iterations for Eigenvalue Problems

We consider preconditioned subspace iterations for the numerical solution of discretized elliptic eigenvalue problems. For these iterative solvers, the convergence theory is still an incomplete puzzle. We generalize some results from the classical convergence theory of inverse subspace iterations, as given by Parlett, and some recent results on the convergence of preconditioned vector iterations. To this end, we use a geometric cone representation and prove some new trigonometric inequalities for subspace angles and canonical angles. (© 2010 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)