Fast algorithm and new potential formula represented by Chebyshev polynomials for an $$m\times n$$ m × n globe network

Abstract Resistor network is widely used. Many potential formulae of resistor networks have been solved accurately, but the scale of data is limited by manual calculation, and numerical simulation has become the trend of large-scale operation. This paper improves the general solution of potential formula for an $$m\times n$$ m × n globe network. Chebyshev polynomials are introduced to represent new potential formula of a globe network. Compared with the original potential formula, it saves time to calculate the potential. In addition, an algorithm for computing potential by the famous second type of discrete cosine transform (DCT-II) is also proposed. It is the first time to be used for machine calculation. Moreover, it greatly increases the efficiency of computing potential. In the application of this new potential formula, the equivalent resistance formulae in special cases are given and displayed by three-dimensional dynamic view. The new potential formulae and the proposed fast algorithm realize large-scale operation for resistor networks.