Hybrid asymptotic/numerical methods for the evaluation of layer heat potentials in two dimensions (Q2000499)

The authors develop a new method for the evaluation of layer heat potentials in two dimensions. Using an exponential change of variables, the phenomenon of ``geometrically induced stiffness'', which prevents the robust application of high-order Gauss-Jacobi-type quadrature rules is overcome. In the hybrid scheme presented by the authors, local asymptotic approximation is combined with Gauss-Legendre quadrature in the transformed time variable. The corresponding spatial boundary integral operators involve only Gaussian kernels, permitting the application of the fast Gauss transform. This new scheme is robust, avoids geometrically induced stiffness, and is easy to use in the presence of moving geometries. Its extension to three dimensions is straightforward and should allow layer heat potentials to become flexible and powerful tools for modeling diffusion processes.