Crank-Nicolson method for the numerical solution of models of excitability

✍ Scribed by J. C. López-Marcos

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1994
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 791 KB
• Volume: 10
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0749-159X
• DOI: 10.1002/num.1690100306

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

We analyze a Crank‐Nicolson scheme for a family of nonlinear parabolic partial differential equations. These equations cover a wide class of models of excitability, in particular the Hodgkin Huxley equations. To do the analysis, we have in mind the general discretization framework introduced by López‐Marcos and Sanz‐Serna [in Numerical Treatment of Differential Equations, K. Strehemel, Ed., Teubner‐Texte zur Mathematik, Leipzig, 1988, p. 216]. We study consistency, stability and convergence properties of the scheme. We use a technique of modified functions, introduced by Strang [Numer. Math. 6, 37 (1964)], in the study of consistency. Stability is derived by means of the energy method. Finally we obtain existence and convergence of numerical approximations by means of a result due to Stetter (Analysis of Discretization Methods for Ordinary Differential Equations. Springer‐Verlag, Berlin, 1973). We show that the method has optimal order of accuracy in the discrete H^1^ norm. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.