The alternate-block-factorization procedure for systems of partial differential equations (Q751783)

The authors discuss the alternate-block-factorization (ABF) method solving a nonlinear system of elliptic equations. The ABF strategy consists in reducing of intra-equation coupling. This has the effect of speeding the convergence of commonly used iteration schemes (Gauss- Seidel-Newton type). The partially decoupling of the system is based on a suitable local change of variables. The ABF approach can substantially reduce the total effort to solve a tightly coupled system. The suggested procedure is applied to the solution of a drift-diffusion system occurring in semiconductor derive modelling.