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We design a Mixed Virtual Element Method for the approximated solution to the first-order form of the acoustic wave equation. In absence of external load, the semi-discrete method exactly conserves the system energy. To integrate in time the semi-discrete problem we consider a classical theta-method scheme. We carry out the stability and convergence analysis in the energy norm for the semi-discrete problem showing optimal rate of convergence with respect to the mesh size. We further study the property of energy conservation for the fully-discrete system. Finally, we present some verification tests as well as engineering application of the method.

We consider the Virtual Element discretization of the Navier-Stokes equations coupled with the heat equation where the viscosity depends on the temperature. We present the Virtual Element discretization of the coupled problem, show its well-posedness, and prove optimal error estimates. Numerical experiments which confirm the theoretical error bounds are also presented.

We consider the $C^1$-Virtual Element Method (VEM) for the conforming numerical approximation of some variants of the Cahn-Hilliard equation on polygonal meshes. In particular, we focus on the discretization of the advective Cahn-Hilliard problem and the Cahn-Hilliard inpainting problem. We present the numerical approximation and several numerical results to assess the efficacy of the proposed methodology.

In this study, we propose a virtual element scheme to solve the Darcy problem in three physical dimensions. The main novelty, here proposed, is that curved elements are naturally handled without any degradation of the solution accuracy. In fact, in presence of curved boundaries, or internal interfaces, the geometrical error introduced by planar approximations may dominate the convergence rate limiting the benefit of high-order approximations. We consider the Darcy problem in its mixed form to directly obtain, with our numerical scheme, accurate and mass conservative fluxes without any post-processing. An important step to derive this new scheme is the actual computation of polynomials over curved polyhedrons, here presented and discussed. Finally, we show the theoretical analysis of the scheme as well as several numerical examples to support our findings

In this work we present an extension of the Virtual Element Method with curved edges for the numerical approximation of the second order wave equation in a bidimensional setting. Curved elements are used to describe the domain boundary, as well as internal interfaces corresponding to the change of some mechanical parameters. As opposite to the classic and isoparametric Finite Element approaches, where the geometry of the domain is approximated respectively by piecewise straight lines and by higher order polynomial maps, in the proposed method the geometry is exactly represented, thus ensuring a highly accurate numerical solution. Indeed, if in the former approach the geometrical error might deteriorate the quality of the numerical solution, in the latter approach the curved interfaces/boundaries are approximated exactly guaranteeing the expected order of convergence for the numerical scheme. Theoretical results and numerical findings confirm the validity of the proposed approach.

In many applications the accurate representation of the computational domain is a key factor to obtain reliable and effective numerical solutions. Curved interfaces, which might be internal, related to physical data, or portions of the physical boundary, are often met in real applications. However, they are often approximated leading to a geometrical error that might become dominant and deteriorate the quality of the results. Underground problems often involve the motion of fluids where the fundamental governing equation is the Darcy law. High quality velocity fields are of paramount importance for the successful subsequent coupling with other physical phenomena such as transport. The virtual element method, as solution scheme, is known to be applicable in problems whose discretizations requires cells of general shape, and the mixed formulation is here preferred to obtain accurate velocity fields. To overcome the issues associated to the complex geometries and, at the same time, retaining the quality of the solutions, we present here the virtual element method to solve the Darcy problem, in mixed form, in presence of curved interfaces in two and three dimensions. The numerical scheme is presented in detail explaining the discrete setting with a focus on the treatment of curved interfaces. Examples, inspired from industrial applications, are presented showing the validity of the proposed approach.

In this work, we propose an extension of the mixed Virtual Element Method (VEM) for bi-dimensional computational grids with curvilinear edge elements. The approximation by means of rectilinear edges of a domain with curvilinear geometrical feature, such as a portion of domain boundary or an internal interface, may introduce a geometrical error that degrades the expected order of convergence of the scheme. In the present work a suitable VEM approximation space is proposed to consistently handle curvilinear geometrical objects, thus recovering optimal convergence rates. The resulting numerical scheme is presented along with its theoretical analysis and several numerical test cases to validate the proposed approach.

In the present contribution, we construct a virtual element (VE) discretization for the problem of miscible displacement of one incompressible fluid by another, described by a time-dependent coupled system of nonlinear partial differential equations. Our work represents a first study to investigate the premises of virtual element methods (VEM) for complex fluid flow problems. We combine the VEM discretization with a time stepping scheme and develop a complete theoretical analysis of the method under the assumption of a regular solution. The scheme is then tested both on a regular and on a more realistic test case.

HelMod is a Monte Carlo code developed to describe the transport of Galactic Cosmic Rays (GCRs) through the heliosphere from the interstellar space to the Earth. In the current HelMod version 4 the modulation process, based on Parker's equation, is applied to the propagation of GCRs in the inner and outer heliosphere, i.e., including the heliosheath. HelMod was proved to reproduce protons, nuclei and electrons cosmic rays spectra observed during solar cycles 23-24 by several detectors, for instance, PAMELA, BESS and AMS-02. In particular, the unprecedented accuracy of AMS-02 observations allowed one a better tuning of the description regarding the solar modulation mechanisms implemented in HelMod. In addition, HelMod demonstrated to be capable of reproducing the uxes observed by the Voyager probes in the inner and outer regions of heliosphere up to its border.

We present the essential instruments to deal with Virtual Element Method (VEM) for the resolution of partial differential equations in mixed form. Functional spaces, degrees of freedom, projectors and differential operators are described emphasizing how to build them in a virtual element framework and for a general approximation order. To achieve this goal, it was necessary to make a deep analysis on polynomial spaces and decompositions. Finally, we exploit such `briks' to construct virtual element approximations of Stokes, Darcy and Navier-Stokes problems and we provide a series of examples to numerically verify the theoretical behavior of high-order VEM.

We extend the conforming virtual element method to the numerical resolution of eigenvalue problems with potential terms on a polytopal mesh. An important application is that of the Schrodinger equation with a pseudopotential term. This model is a fundamental element in the numerical resolution of more complex problems from the Density Functional Theory. The VEM is based on the construction of the discrete bilinear forms of the variational formulation through certain polynomial projection operators that are directly computable from the degrees of freedom. The method shows a great flexibility with respect to the meshes and provide a correct spectral approximation with optimal convergence rates. This point is discussed from both the theoretical and the numerical viewpoint. The performance of the method is numerically investigated by solving the Quantum Harmonic Oscillator problem with the harmonic potential and a singular eigenvalue problem with zero potential for the first eigenvalues., Comment: 24 pages, 10 figures. arXiv admin note: substantial text overlap with arXiv:1802.02942

We analyse the nonconforming Virtual Element Method (VEM) for the approximation of elliptic eigenvalue problems. The nonconforming VEM allow to treat in the same formulation the two- and three-dimensional case.We present two possible formulations of the discrete problem, derived respectively by the nonstabilized and stabilized approximation of the L^2-inner product, and we study the convergence properties of the corresponding discrete eigenvalue problem. The proposed schemes provide a correct approximation of the spectrum, in particular we prove optimal-order error estimates for the eigenfunctions and the usual double order of convergence of the eigenvalues. Finally we show a large set of numerical tests supporting the theoretical results, including a comparison with the conforming Virtual Element choice.

The heliospheric modulation model HelMod solve the transport-equation for the Galactic Cosmic Rays propagation through the heliosphere down to Earth. It is based on a 2-D Monte Carlo approach, that includes a general description of the symmetric and antisymmetric parts of the diffusion tensor, thus, properly treating the particle drift effects as well as convection within the solar wind and adiabatic energy loss. The model was tuned in order to fit 1) the data observed outside the ecliptic plane at several distances from the Earth and 2) the spectra observed near the Earth for both, high and low solar activity periods. Great importance was given to description of polar regions of the heliosphere. We present the flux for protons, antiprotons and helium nuclei computed along the solar cycle 23-24 in comparison with experimental observations and prediction for the full solar cycle 24., Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures, proceedings of IAU Symposium 335 - Space Weather of the Heliosphere: Processes and Forecasts, July 17-21, 2017, University of Exeter, UK

The focus of the present paper is on developing a Virtual Element Method for Darcy and Brinkman equations. In [15] we presented a family of Virtual Elements for Stokes equations and we defined a new Virtual Element space of velocities such that the associated discrete kernel is pointwise divergence-free. We use a slightly different Virtual Element space having two fundamental properties: the L^2-projection onto P_k is exactly computable on the basis of the degrees of freedom, and the associated discrete kernel is still pointwise divergence-free. The resulting numerical scheme for the Darcy equation has optimal order of convergence and H^1 conforming velocity solution. We can apply the same approach to develop a robust virtual element method for the Brinkman equation that is stable for both the Stokes and Darcy limit case. We provide a rigorous error analysis of the method and several numerical tests., Comment: arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1510.01655

We introduce the Virtual Element Method (VEM) for elliptic eigenvalue problems. The main result of the paper states that VEM provides an optimal order approximation of the eigenmodes. A wide set of numerical tests confirm the theoretical analysis.

Euclid is a European Space Agency medium class mission selected for launch in 2020 within the Cosmic Vision 2015 2025 program. The main goal of Euclid is to understand the origin of the accelerated expansion of the universe. Euclid will explore the expansion history of the universe and the evolution of cosmic structures by measuring shapes and redshifts of galaxies as well as the distribution of clusters of galaxies over a large fraction of the sky. Although the main driver for Euclid is the nature of dark energy, Euclid science covers a vast range of topics, from cosmology to galaxy evolution to planetary research. In this review we focus on cosmology and fundamental physics, with a strong emphasis on science beyond the current standard models. We discuss five broad topics: dark energy and modified gravity, dark matter, initial conditions, basic assumptions and questions of methodology in the data analysis. This review has been planned and carried out within Euclid's Theory Working Group and is meant to provide a guide to the scientific themes that will underlie the activity of the group during the preparation of the Euclid mission., Comment: This article provides an update of arXiv:1206.1225, with different authors. Forecasts are not updated in this version

In the present paper we develop the Virtual Element Method for hyperbolic problems on polygonal meshes, considering the linear wave equations as our model problem. After presenting the semi-discrete scheme, we derive the convergence estimates in H^1 semi-norm and L^2 norm. Moreover we develop a theoretical analysis on the stability for the fully discrete problem by comparing the Newmark method and the Bathe method. Finally we show the practical behaviour of the proposed method through a large array of numerical tests.

In this paper we consider the numerical solution of the Hamiltonian wave equation in two spatial dimension. We use the Mimetic Finite Difference (MFD) method to approximate the continuous problem combined with a symplectic integration in time to integrate the semi-discrete Hamiltonian system. The main characteristic of MFD methods, when applied to stationary problems, is to mimic important properties of the continuous system. This approach, associated with a symplectic method for the time integration yields a full numerical procedure suitable to integrate Hamiltonian problems. A complete theoretical analysis of the method and some numerical simulations are developed in the paper., Comment: 26 pages, 8 figures