A numerical scheme for the solution of the space charge problem on a multiply connected region (Q1181918)

We extend the work of \textit{C. J. Budd} and \textit{A. A. Wheeler} [Proc. R. Soc. Lond. Ser. A 417, 389-415 (1988; Zbl 0654.35074)], who described a new numerical scheme for the solution of the space charge equation on a simple connected domain, to multiply connected regions. The space charge equation, \(\nabla \cdot (\Delta \overline{\varphi} \nabla \overline{\varphi}) = 0\), is a third-order nonlinear partial differential equation for the electric potential \(\overline{\varphi}\), which models the electric field in the vicinity of a coronating conductor. Budd and Wheeler described a new way of analyzing this equation by constructing an orthogonal coordinate system (\(\overline{\varphi},\overline {\psi})\) and recasting the equation in terms of \(x\), \(y\), and \(\Delta\overline{\varphi}\) as functions of \((\overline{\varphi},\overline{\psi})\). This transformation is singular on multiply connected regions and in this paper we show how this may be overcome to provide an efficient numerical scheme for the solution of the space charge equation. This scheme also provides a new method for the solution of the Laplace equation and the calculation of orthogonal meshes on multiply connected regions.