Arbitrary high-order unconditionally stable methods for reaction-diffusion equations with inhomogeneous boundary condition via Deferred Correction

In this paper we analyse full discretizations of an initial boundary value problem (IBVP) related to reaction-diffusion equations. To avoid possible order reduction, the IBVP is first transformed into an IBVP with homogeneous boundary conditions (IBVPHBC) via a lifting of inhomogeneous Dirichlet, Neumann or mixed Dirichlet-Neumann boundary conditions. The IBVPHBC is discretized in time via the deferred correction method for the implicit midpoint rule and leads to a time-stepping scheme of order $2p+2$ of accuracy at the stage $p=0,1,2,\cdots $ of the correction. Each semi-discretized scheme results in a nonlinear elliptic equation for which the existence of a solution is proven using the Schaefer fixed point theorem. The elliptic equation corresponding to the stage $p$ of the correction is discretized by the Galerkin finite element method and gives a full discretization of the IBVPHBC. This fully discretized scheme is unconditionally stable with order $2p+2$ of accuracy in time. The order of accuracy in space is equal to the degree of the finite element used when the family of meshes considered is shape-regular while an increment of one order is proven for quasi-uniform family of meshes. Numerical tests with a bistable reaction-diffusion equation having a strong stiffness ratio and a linear reaction-diffusion equation addressing order reduction are performed and demonstrate the unconditional convergence of the method. The orders 2,4,6,8 and 10 of accuracy in time are achieved.