Finite element solution of a radiation/propagation problem for a Helmholtz equation with a compactly supported nonlinearity

Abstract: A finite element method for approximating the solution of a mathematical model for the response of a penetrable, bounded object (obstacle) to the excitation by an external electromagnetic field is presented and investigated. The model consists of a nonlinear Helmholtz equation that is reduced to a spherical domain. The (exemplary) finite element method is formed by Courant-type elements with curved facets at the boundary of the spherical computational domain. This method is examined for its well-posedness, in particular the validity of a discrete inf-sup condition of the modified sesquilinear form uniformly with respect to both the truncation and the mesh parameters is shown. Under suitable assumptions to the nonlinearities, a quasi-optimal error estimate is obtained. Finally, the satisfiability of the approximation property of the finite element space required for the solvability of a class of adjoint linear problems is discussed.