Optimal adaptive solution of initial-value problems with unknown singularities

The optimal solution of initial-value problems in ODEs is well studied for smooth right-hand side functions. Much less is known about the optimality of algorithms for singular problems. In this paper, we study the (worst case) solution of scalar problems with a right-hand side function having r continuous bounded derivatives in R, except for an unknown singular point. We establish the minimal worst case error for such problems (which depends on r similarly as in the smooth case), and define optimal adaptive algorithms. The crucial point is locating an unknown singularity of the solution by properly adapting the grid. We also study lower bounds on the error of an algorithm for classes of singular problems. In the case of a single singularity with nonadaptive information, or in the case of two or more singularities, the error of any algorithm is shown to be independent of r.