An adaptive finite element algorithm with reliable and efficient error control for linear parabolic problems

An efficient and reliable a posteriori error estimate is derived for linear parabolic equations which does not depend on any regularity assumption on the underlying elliptic operator. An adaptive algorithm with variable time-step sizes and space meshes is proposed and studied which, at each time step, delays the mesh coarsening until the final iteration of the adaptive procedure, allowing only mesh and time-step size refinements before. It is proved that at each time step the adaptive algorithm is able to reduce the error indicators (and thus the error) below any given tolerance within a finite number of iteration steps. The key ingredient in the analysis is a new coarsening strategy. Numerical results are presented to show the competitive behavior of the proposed adaptive algorithm.