Eigenfunction behavior and adaptive finite element approximations of nonlinear eigenvalue problems in quantum physics

Abstract

In this paper, we investigate a class of nonlinear eigenvalue problems resulting from quantum physics. We first prove that for any open set G, there exists an eigenfunction that cannot be a polynomial on G, which may be reviewed as a refinement of the classic unique continuation property. Then we apply the non-polynomial behavior of the eigenfunction to show that the adaptive finite element approximations are convergent even if the initial mesh is not fine enough. We finally remark that similar arguments can be applied to a class of linear eigenvalue problems that improve the relevant existing results.