Error analysis of a mixed finite element method for the Cahn-Hilliard equation (Q706224)

The aim of this paper is to analyze a semi-discrete and a fully discrete mixed finite element method applied to approximate the Cahn-Hilliard equation: \[ u_t+ \Delta(\varepsilon\Delta u- \varepsilon^{-1} f(u))= 0, \] where \(\varepsilon> 0\) is a small parameter. Firstly, some energy estimates in various function spaces in terms of negative powers of \(\varepsilon\) are obtained. Next, the error analysis for a semi-discrete (in time) approximation is carefully detailed followed by the error analysis of a fully discrete mixed finite element approximation. The references to previous works on the subject are thoroughly discussed and the presentation of the paper is really clear. The work does not include any numerical experiments.