Computing the lower and upper bounds of Laplace eigenvalue problem by combining conforming and nonconforming finite element methods (Q1934466)

The authors consider the two-dimensional Laplace eigenvalue problem in a domain guaranteeing a generalized eigenfunction in \(H^{1+\gamma},\,0<\gamma\leq 1\). They propose to solve it using the extended Crouzeix-Raviart element (on triangles) or its rotated version (extended Rannacher-Turek element, on rectangles) and prove (relying on an identity for \(\lambda-\lambda_h\) obtained by \textit{Z. Zhang} et al. [Math. Numer. Sin. 29, No. 3, 319--321 (2007; Zbl 1142.65435)] that both lead to lower approximations \(\underline\lambda_h\) of the eigenvalues. For small enough \(h\), the convergence order is \(2\gamma\). Upper bounds can be obtained taking conforming elements, but the authors propose a cheaper approach, to take the results \(\lambda_hu_h\) of the nonconforming elements as right-hand sides in a source problem solved in the (linear) conforming space. This method is generalized to higher order conforming elements where a Ritz step is added on the space spanned by the first \(m\) eigenfunctions. For the first resp.\ second, higher order approach (then assuming \(u\in H^{1+2\gamma}\)) they prove the convergence order of \(\overline\lambda_h-\underline\lambda_h\) to be \(2\gamma\) resp.\ \(4\gamma\) assuming small enough \(h\) and \(\frac12<\gamma\). Numerical results illustrate the theory and show also that the methods cope with multiple eigenvalues.