A new scalar auxiliary variable approach for general dissipative systems

In this thesis, we first propose a new scalar auxiliary variable (SAV) approach for general dissipative nonlinear systems. This new approach is half computational cost of the original SAV approach, can be extended to high order unconditionally energy stable backward differentiation formula (BDF) schemes and not restricted to the gradient flow structure. Rigorous error estimates for this new SAV approach are conducted for the Allen-Cahn and Cahn-Hilliard type equations from the BDF1 to the BDF5 schemes in a unified form. As an application of this new approach, we construct high order unconditionally stable, fully discrete schemes for the incompressible Navier-Stokes equation with periodic boundary condition. The corresponding error estimates for the fully discrete schemes are also reported. Secondly, by combining the new SAV approach with functional transformation, we propose a new method to construct high-order, linear, positivity/bound preserving and unconditionally energy stable schemes for general dissipative systems whose solutions are positivity/bound preserving. We apply this new method to second order equations: the Allen-Cahn equation with logarithm potential, the Poisson-Nernst-Planck equation and the Keller-Segel equations and fourth order equations: the thin film equation and the Cahn-Hilliard equation with logarithm potential. Ample numerical examples are provided to demonstrate the improved efficiency and accuracy of the proposed method.