Discontinuous Finite Element Methods for Interface Problems: Robust A Priori and A Posteriori Error Estimates

Abstract. For elliptic interface problems in two and three dimensions, this paper studies a priori and residual-based a posteriori error estimations for the Crouzeix–Raviart nonconforming and the discontinuous Galerkin finite element approximations. It is shown that both the a priori and the a posteriori error estimates are robust with respect to the diffusion coefficient, i.e., constants in the error bounds are independent of the jump of the diffusion coefficient. The a priori estimates are also optimal with respect to local regularity of the solution. Moreover, we obtained these estimates with no assumption on the distribution of the diffusion coefficient.