Mixed approximation of a population diffusion equation (Q1905910)

The article is concerned with a model for age-dependent population dynamics with spatial diffusion in an isolated habitat. The coefficients depend on the population density which makes the model nonlinear. Introducing the flux as an independent variable, the authors propose a mixed finite element method (in the space variable) combined with a finite difference scheme in the characteristic time-age direction. Error estimates resp. convergence results are presented which are ``optimal'' in order and with respect to spatial regularity. Moreover, a ``hybridized'' version (with non-conformal elements) is proposed and shown to be stable.