Error analysis for a potential problem on locally refined grids (Q1587933)

A potential problem arising from modelling biomolecular systems with aqueous solvent is considered. The authors investigate a way to construct an optimal composite grid in the sense that the difference between the analytical and numerical solutions is reasonably small and the computational work is not too large. An interpolation method at the interfaces between the fine and coarse grids based on a conservative discretization of the diffusion term in the potential equation is proposed. Based on an error analysis of the Greens function, the authors discuss the accuracy of the solution energy and give error estimate for this potential problem on a locally refined grid. Based on this analysis, the authors obtain quantative information about optimal grid coarsening towards infinity and on the size of the finest grid. The error analysis developed is confirmed by numerical experiments.