Finite element approximation of the linearized Cahn-Hilliard-Cook equation

Abstract: The linearized Cahn-Hilliard-Cook equation is discretized in the spatial variables by a standard finite element method. Strong convergence estimates are proved under suitable assumptions on the covariance operator of the Wiener process, which is driving the equation. The backward Euler time stepping is also studied. The analysis is set in a framework based on analytic semigroups. The main effort is spent on proving detailed error bounds for the corresponding deterministic Cahn-Hilliard equation. The results should be interpreted as results on approximation of the stochastic convolution, which is a part of the mild solution of the nonlinear Cahn-Hilliard-Cook equation.