Approximation of vectors fields by thin plate splines with tension (Q2569465)

Radial basis function approximation to function and data, including vector fields, is an important approach in multivariate approximation. Thin plate splines form a much-used special case of this method, and in this paper interpolation with thin plate splines to vector field data is studied. Among other things, typical questions as that of existence and uniqueness of the interpolants are answered. In addition, two tension parameters are admitted especially for the divergence and rotation of the field.