On the adaptive spectral approximation of functions using redundant sets and frames

Abstract: The approximation of smooth functions with a spectral basis typically leads to rapidly decaying coefficients where the rate of decay depends on the smoothness of the function and vice-versa. The optimal number of degrees of freedom in the approximation can be determined with relative ease by truncating the coefficients once a threshold is reached. Recent approximation schemes based on redundant sets and frames extend the applicability of spectral approximations to functions defined on irregular geometries and to certain non-smooth functions. However, due to their inherent redundancy, the expansion coefficients in frame approximations do not necessarily decay even for very smooth functions. In this paper, we highlight this lack of equivalence between smoothness and coefficient decay and we explore approaches to determine an optimal number of degrees of freedom for such redundant approximations.