A Posteriori Error Estimates for the Finite Element Approximation of Eigenvalue Problems

Abstract

This paper deals with a posteriori error estimators for the linear finite element approximation of second-order elliptic eigenvalue problems in two or three dimensions. First, we give a simple proof of the equivalence, up to higher order terms, between the error and a residual type error estimator. Second, we prove that the volumetric part of the residual is dominated by a constant times the edge or face residuals, again up to higher order terms. This result was not known for eigenvalue problems.