Spectral methods for the computation of discontinuous solutions (Q1825620)

Periodic boundary value problems for first order hyperbolic equations with piecewise smooth solutions are considered. The aim is to develop postprocessing of the numerical spectral solution for filtering out oscillations and restoring, if possible, spectral accuracy in spite of the discontinuity. Several approximations of the delta function (by the Dirichlet kernel or by truncated Chebyshev expansion, assuming the position of the jump as known) are investigated for use in this postprocessing. Estimates show that spectral accuracy is obtained. Discussing numerical results, a modification of the postprocessing is found which is better near the jump. Further, linear hyperbolic equations are considered and consistency and stability of the Fourier-Galerkin semidiscrete approximation are proved and, for problems with a discontinuity in the initial data, the order of approximation of moments of the solution (i.e. of the postprocessed solution) is estimated; this is done also for pseudospectral approximation of the transport equation. Numerical tests include the Burgers equation (without viscosity; here the modified Chebyshev filter proved best) and an astrophysical problem (where a McCormack first order filter was best in capturing shock).