Mixed finite elements for the Gross-Pitaevskii eigenvalue problem: a priori error analysis and guaranteed lower energy bound

Abstract: We establish an a priori error analysis for the lowest-order Raviart-Thomas finite element discretisation of the nonlinear Gross-Pitaevskii eigenvalue problem. Optimal convergence rates are obtained for the primal and dual variables as well as for the eigenvalue and energy approximations. In contrast to conformal approaches, which naturally imply upper energy bounds, the proposed mixed discretisation provides a guaranteed and asymptotically exact lower bound for the ground state energy. The theoretical results are illustrated by a series of numerical experiments.