A nonstandard mixed finite element family (Q2270142)

The mixed method for the Poisson equation is applied to finite element functions with some extra continuity conditions in the BDM space or BDDF space. The degrees of freedom on the interfaces are adapted. Error estimates are given in terms of the \(L_2\) norm for \(\sigma\) and a broken \(H^1\) norm for \(u\), i.e., not for the pair \(H(\text{div})\times L_2\). A postprocessing yields an improved approximation \(u_h^*\) such that the error \(u_h^*-u\) has the same approximation order as a projected error of the original finite element, i.e., \(u_h-P_h u\). A posteriori error estimates consisting of three terms are derived. [They are not optimal since no generic constant is necessary for that term which possibly provides the main contribution.]