Accuracy of spectral element method for wave, parabolic and Schrödinger equations

Abstract: The spectral element method constructed by the $Q^k$ ($k\geq 2$) continuous finite element method with $(k+1)$-point Gauss-Lobatto quadrature on rectangular meshes is a popular high order scheme for solving wave equations in various applications. It can also be regarded as a finite difference scheme on all Gauss-Lobatto points. We prove that this finite difference scheme is $(k+2)$-order accurate in discrete 2-norm for smooth solutions. The same proof can be extended to the spectral element method solving linear parabolic and Schr\"odinger equations. The main result also applies to the spectral element method on curvilinear meshes that can be smoothly mapped to rectangular meshes on the unit square.