Nodal auxiliary a posteriori error estimates

Abstract: We introduce and explain key relations between a posteriori error estimates and subspace correction methods viewed as preconditioners for problems in infinite dimensional Hilbert spaces. We set the stage using the Finite Element Exterior Calculus and Nodal Auxiliary Space Preconditioning. This framework provides a systematic way to derive explicit residual estimators and estimators based on local problems which are upper and lower bounds of the true error. We show the applications to discretizations of $\delta d$, curl-curl, grad-div, Hodge Laplacian problems, and linear elasticity with weak symmetry. We also provide a new regular decomposition for singularly perturbed H(d) norms and parameter-independent error estimators. The only ingredients needed are: well-posedness of the problem and the existence of regular decomposition on continuous level.