Patrick Ciarlet

Eric T. Chung, Patrick Ciarlet, Xingguang Jin et al.

From a mathematical perspective, the extraordinary properties of metamaterials are often reflected in the coefficients of the governing partial differential equations (PDEs). These coefficients may fall outside the assumptions of classical theory, particularly when the effective dielectric permittivity and/or magnetic permeability are negative. This situation can transform a coercive operator into a non-coercive one, potentially leading to ill-posedness. In this paper, we utilize the Constraint Energy Minimizing Generalized Multiscale Finite Element Method (CEM-GMsFEM), specifically designed for time-harmonic electromagnetic wave problems, where the construction of auxiliary spaces in the original CEM-GMsFEM is tailored to accommodate the sign-changing setting. Based on the framework of \texttt{T}-coercivity theory and resolution conditions, we establish the inf-sup stability and provide an a priori error estimate for the proposed method. The numerical results demonstrate the effectiveness and robustness of our approach in handling such sophisticated coefficient profiles.

Eric T. Chung, Patrick Ciarlet, Xingguang Jin et al.

The mathematical formulation of sign-changing problems involves a linear second-order partial differential equation in the divergence form, where the coefficient can assume positive and negative values in different subdomains. These problems find their physical background in negative-index metamaterials, either as inclusions embedded into common materials as the matrix or vice versa. In this paper, we propose a numerical method based on the constraint energy minimizing generalized multiscale finite element method (CEM-GMsFEM) specifically designed for sign-changing problems. The construction of auxiliary spaces in the original CEM-GMsFEM is tailored to accommodate the sign-changing setting. The numerical results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method in handling sophisticated coefficient profiles and the robustness of coefficient contrast ratios. Under several technical assumptions and by applying the \texttt{T}-coercivity theory, we establish the inf-sup stability and provide an a priori error estimate for the proposed method.

Stéphanie Chaillat, Luca Desiderio, Patrick Ciarlet

In this work, we study the accuracy and efficiency of hierarchical matrix ($\mathcal{H}$-matrix) based fast methods for solving dense linear systems arising from the discretization of the 3D elastodynamic Green's tensors. It is well known in the literature that standard $\mathcal{H}$-matrix based methods, although very efficient tools for asymptotically smooth kernels, are not optimal for oscillatory kernels. $\mathcal{H}^2$-matrix and directional approaches have been proposed to overcome this problem. However the implementation of such methods is much more involved than the standard $\mathcal{H}$-matrix representation. The central questions we address are twofold. (i) What is the frequency-range in which the $\mathcal{H}$-matrix format is an efficient representation for 3D elastodynamic problems? (ii) What can be expected of such an approach to model problems in mechanical engineering? We show that even though the method is not optimal (in the sense that more involved representations can lead to faster algorithms) an efficient solver can be easily developed. The capabilities of the method are illustrated on numerical examples using the Boundary Element Method.

Patrick Ciarlet, Charles F. Dunkl, Stefan A. Sauter

In this paper we will develop a family of non-conforming "Crouzeix-Raviart" type finite elements in three dimensions. They consist of local polynomials of maximal degree $p\in\mathbb{N}$ on simplicial finite element meshes while certain jump conditions are imposed across adjacent simplices. We will prove optimal a priori estimates for these finite elements. The characterization of this space via jump conditions is implicit and the derivation of a local basis requires some deeper theoretical tools from orthogonal polynomials on triangles and their representation. We will derive these tools for this purpose. These results allow us to give explicit representations of the local basis functions. Finally we will analyze the linear independence of these sets of functions and discuss the question whether they span the whole non-conforming space.

Patrick Ciarlet, Minh-Hieu Do, Mario Gervais et al.

We analyse a posteriori error estimates for the discretization with mixed finite elements on simplicial or Cartesian meshes of the multigroup neutron simplified transport (SPN ) equations, in the case where a Robin (or Fourier type) boundary condition is imposed on the boundary. This boundary condition is of particular importance in neutronics, since it corresponds to the well-known vacuum boundary condition. We provide guaranteed and locally efficient estimators. In particular, a specific estimator is designed to handle the Robin boundary condition. We also develop the theory in the case of mixed imposed boundary conditions, of Dirichlet, Neumann or Fourier type. The approach is further extended to a Domain Decomposition Method, the so-called DD+L 2 jumps method. In this framework, the adaptive mesh refinement strategy is implemented for a discretization using Cartesian meshes on each subdomain. Numerical experiments illustrate the theory.

Juan Pablo Borthagaray, Patrick Ciarlet

We consider the numerical solution of the fractional Laplacian of index $s\in(1/2,1)$ in a bounded domain $Ω$ with homogeneous boundary conditions. Its solution a priori belongs to the fractional order Sobolev space ${\widetilde H}^s(Ω)$. For the Dirichlet problem and under suitable assumptions on the data, it can be shown that its solution is also in $H^1(Ω)$. In this case, if one uses the standard Lagrange finite element to discretize the problem, then both the exact and the computed solution belong to $H^1(Ω)$. A natural question is then whether one can obtain error estimates in $H^1(Ω)$-norm, in addition to the classical ones that can be derived in the ${\widetilde H}^s(Ω)$ energy norm. We address this issue, and in particular we derive error estimates for the Lagrange finite element solutions on both quasi-uniform and graded meshes.

Anne-Sophie Bonnet-Ben Dhia, Camille Carvalho, Lucas Chesnel et al.

We investigate in a $2$D setting the scattering of time-harmonic electromagnetic waves by a plasmonic device, represented as a non dissipative bounded and penetrable obstacle with a negative permittivity. Using the $\textrm{T}$-coercivity approach, we first prove that the problem is well-posed in the classical framework $H^1_{\text{loc}} $ if the negative permittivity does not lie in some critical interval whose definition depends on the shape of the device. When the latter has corners, for values inside the critical interval, unusual strong singularities for the electromagnetic field can appear. In that case, well-posedness is obtained by imposing a radiation condition at the corners to select the outgoing black-hole plasmonic wave, that is the one which carries energy towards the corners. A simple and systematic criterion is given to define what is the outgoing solution. Finally, we propose an original numerical method based on the use of Perfectly Matched Layers at the corners. We emphasize that it is necessary to design an $\textit{ad hoc}$ technique because the field is too singular to be captured with standard finite element methods.