Parallel finite element density functional computations exploiting grid refinement and subspace recycling Original Research Article

In this communication computational methods that facilitate finite element analysis of density functional computations are developed. They are: (i) image–adaptive grid refinement techniques that reduce the total number of degrees of freedom in the real space grid while improving on the approximate resolution of the wanted solution; and (ii) subspace recycling of the approximate solution in self-consistent cycles with the aim of improving the performance of the generalized eigenproblem solver. These techniques are shown to give a convincing speed-up in the computation process by alleviating the overhead normally associated with computing systems with many degrees-of-freedom.