Optimal L2-error estimates for the semidiscrete Galerkin
approximation to a second order linear parabolic initial and
boundary value problem with nonsmooth initial data

Abstract

In this article, we have discussed a priori error estimate for the semidiscrete Galerkin approximation of a general second order parabolic initial and boundary value problem with non-smooth initial data. Our analysis is based on an elementary energy argument without resorting to parabolic duality technique. The proposed technique is also extended to a semidiscrete mixed method for parabolic problems. Optimal L2-error estimate is derived for both cases, when the initial data is in L2.