Curve shortening flow coupled to lateral diffusion (Q522240)

The authors consider convergence and error bounds for a numerical method approximating a diffusion process given on a moving curve in \(\mathbb R^2\). The flow takes place in normal direction and depends on the curvature and a coupling function. They derive a weak formulation and approximate it using regular linear elements in the parameter space of the curve, and, based mainly on the work of \textit{G. Dziuk} [SIAM J. Numer. Anal. 36, No. 6, 1808--1830 (1999; Zbl 0942.65112)], derive error estimates for their approach. Compared to the earlier work, they have to estimate also the time derivative of the curve's length element. For this, corresponding existence and regularity results are assumed. They investigate a semi-discrete scheme and show first-order convergence. For the numerical solution they propose a simple linearizing semi-implicit scheme, in the algorithm of which there is already no reference to the parametrization. Finally, they report on two experiments verifying the theoretical results.