Analysis of a Conforming Finite Element Method for Second-Harmonic Generation Scattering

Abstract

In the frequency domain, nonlinear acoustic and electromagnetic wave propagation can, in certain regimes, be modeled by second-harmonic generation systems consisting of two coupled nonlinear Helmholtz equations. We analyze a conforming finite element approximation of a scalar second-harmonic generation scattering problem truncated using an exact Dirichlet-to-Neumann boundary condition. The discretization uses continuous piecewise polynomial finite elements of degree $p$. Under small-data conditions involving the incident-field and nonlinear susceptibilities, we prove existence and uniqueness of the continuous and discrete nonlinear solutions in a prescribed small ball. In the same regime, we derive quasi-optimal a priori $H^1$-error estimates by a nonlinear C\'ea-type argument combining linear Galerkin quasi-optimality with small-data stability estimates for the coupled nonlinearities. We also analyze the convergence of the fixed-point iteration used to compute the discrete nonlinear solution and quantify the combined effects of finite element approximation and nonlinear iteration error. A manufactured-solution experiment illustrates the predicted finite element convergence rates, while additional PML-based scattering computations demonstrate the behavior of the nonlinear fixed-point solver in two and three dimensions.