Second-order Poisson-Nernst-Planck solver for ion transport (Q550953)

The paper proposes new numerical techniques to analyze the Poisson-Nernst-Planck (PNP) equations, which occur in living organisms when one uses the so-called mean-field approximation of ions. These equations are strongly nonlinear and coupled what is a source of many challenging problems to analyze them. Here one constructs a second-order convergent numerical method to find their PNP' equation in the ion-channel framework. The PNP system is reformulated in such a manner that the Dirac delta distribution in the Poisson equation can be removed using Green's function. The numerical algorithm for solving is a matched interface and boundary method, and the authors consider successively the solution of the boundary value problem, the solution of the elliptic interface problem, and the solution of the mixed boundary value problem. Furthermore, they examine the convergence order, test the accuracy, and prove the feasibility of various numerical schemes. To conclude, the numerical results are compared with experimental data.