In the paper titled “New numerical approach for fractional differential equations” by Atangana and Owolabi (2018) [1], it is presented a method for the numerical solution of some fractional differential equations. The numerical approximation is obtained by using just local information and the scheme does not present a memory term; moreover, it is claimed that third-order convergence is surprisingly obtained by simply using linear polynomial approximations. In this note we show that methods of this kind are not reliable and lead to completely wrong results since the nonlocal nature of fractional differential operators cannot be neglected. We illustrate the main weaknesses in the derivation and analysis of the method in order to warn other researchers and scientist to overlook this and other methods devised on similar basis and avoid their use for the numerical simulation of fractional differential equations.

Neglecting nonlocality leads to unreliable numerical methods for fractional differential equations

Garrappa, Roberto
2019-01-01

Abstract

In the paper titled “New numerical approach for fractional differential equations” by Atangana and Owolabi (2018) [1], it is presented a method for the numerical solution of some fractional differential equations. The numerical approximation is obtained by using just local information and the scheme does not present a memory term; moreover, it is claimed that third-order convergence is surprisingly obtained by simply using linear polynomial approximations. In this note we show that methods of this kind are not reliable and lead to completely wrong results since the nonlocal nature of fractional differential operators cannot be neglected. We illustrate the main weaknesses in the derivation and analysis of the method in order to warn other researchers and scientist to overlook this and other methods devised on similar basis and avoid their use for the numerical simulation of fractional differential equations.
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
2019_Garrappa_CNSNS.pdf

non disponibili

Descrizione: Versione pubblicata
Tipologia: Documento in Versione Editoriale
Licenza: NON PUBBLICO - Accesso privato/ristretto
Dimensione 370.81 kB
Formato Adobe PDF
370.81 kB Adobe PDF   Visualizza/Apri   Richiedi una copia

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11586/224753
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus 17
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 17
social impact