A two-point boundary value problem with a rapidly oscillating solution (Q1103344)

The authors consider the two-point boundary value problem \(u''+\lambda\) 2k(x) \(2u=f(x)\), \(0<x<1\), \(u(0)=u_ 0\), \(u'(1)-i\lambda k_{\infty}u(1)=0\) where k(x) and f(x) are smooth functions, with k(x) real and positive, and where i is the imaginary unit. The quantity \(k_{\infty}\) is a positive constant. This model problem represents some of the difficulties that may be expected to occur in solving the reduced wave equation at moderately high frequencies \(\lambda\). The main result of the work is the construction of a finite element method combined with an appropriate asymptotic expansion. The numerical method (theorem 3.4 in the paper) can produce an approximate solution to the specified problem above, with an amount of work that is independent of \(\lambda\). The paper gives a masterly account of the theory.