
Section 7.2 Regularized difference schemes 263
7.2 Regularized difference schemes
An important class of solution methods for ill-posed evolutionary problems is related
with some perturbation applied to the initial equation. In the generalized inverse
method, such a perturbation can be applied immediately to the initial differential prob-
lem.
In a more natural approach, no auxiliary differential problem is considered; instead,
this approach uses a perturbation applied to the difference problem. In this way, regu-
larized difference schemes can be constructed.
7.2.1 Regularization principle for difference schemes
The regularization principle for difference schemes is presently recognized as a guid-
ing principle in improvement of difference schemes. For general two- and three-layer
schemes, recipes aimed at improving the quality of the difference schemes (their sta-
bility, accuracy and efficiency) can be formulated. Using this principle, one can ex-
amine stability and convergence of a broad class of difference schemes for boundary
value mathematical physics problems and develop solution algorithms for difference
problems.
Traditionally, the regularization principle is widely used to develop stable difference
schemes for well-posed problems involving partial differential equations. The same
uniform methodological base is used to construct difference schemes for conditionally
well-posed non-stationary mathematical physics problems. Weakly perturbing prob-
lem operators, one can exert control over the growth of the solution norm on passage
from one to the next time layer.
Absolutely stable difference schemes can be constructed, with the help of the regu-
larization principle, in the following manner:
1. For a given initial problem we construct some simplest difference scheme
(generating difference scheme) that does not possesses the required properties;
i. e., a scheme conditionally stable or even absolutely unstable.
2. We write the difference scheme in the standard (canonical) form for which
stability conditions are known.
3. The properties of the difference scheme (its stability) can be improved by per-
turbing the operators in the difference scheme.
Thus, the regularization principle for a difference scheme is based on using already
known results concerning conditional stability. Such criteria are given by the general
stability theory for difference schemes. From the latter standpoint, we can consider the
regularization principle as a means enabling an efficient use of general results yielded
by the stability theory for difference schemes. The latter can be achieved by writing
difference schemes in rather a general canonical form and by formulation of easy-to-
check stability criteria.