Error analysis for a finite difference scheme for axisymmetric mean curvature flow of genus-0 surfaces

Abstract: We consider a finite difference approximation of mean curvature flow for axisymmetric surfaces of genus zero. A careful treatment of the degeneracy at the axis of rotation for the one dimensional partial differential equation for a parameterization of the generating curve allows us to prove error bounds with respect to discrete $L^2$- and $H^1$-norms for a fully discrete approximation. The theoretical results are confirmed with the help of numerical convergence experiments. We also present numerical simulations for some genus-0 surfaces, including for a non-embedded self-shrinker for mean curvature flow.