Solving three-body integral equations with blending functions (Q1095687)

This paper investigates a numerical method for solving three-body integral equations. The method is a finite element approach similar to that of \textit{G. Hammerlin} and \textit{L. Schumaker}, [Numer. Math. 34, 125- 141 (1980; Zbl 0424.65065)], which utilizes an approximating surface in three-dimensional space, commonly referred to as ``Coons' patches'' or ``blending functions''. However, unlike Hammerlin et al. who use smoothest splines the present paper uses a basis of \(C^ 0\) piecewise polynomial functions. Numerical accuracy of the approximation is tested in a single-variable three-boson model at bound energies and scattering threshold. It is shown that the method converges to exact three-body solutions, and that the rate of convergence is much faster than a usual tensor product of \(C^ 0\) piecewise polynomial functions. The blending function approximation can be used to construct finite-rank separable approximations of the three-body amplitude, which should be of use in four-body calculations.