Residual-based a posteriori error estimation for the Maxwell's eigenvalue problem

Abstract: We present an a posteriori estimator of the error in the L^2-norm for the numerical approximation of the Maxwell's eigenvalue problem by means of N\'ed\'elec finite elements. Our analysis is based on a Helmholtz decomposition of the error and on a superconvergence result between the L^2-orthogonal projection of the exact eigenfunction onto the curl of the N\'ed\'elec finite element space and the eigenfunction approximation. Reliability of the a posteriori error estimator is proved up to higher order terms and local efficiency of the error indicators is shown by using a standard bubble functions technique. The behavior of the a posteriori error estimator is illustrated on a numerical test.