A second-order numerical method for the aggregation equations

Abstract

Inspired by so-called TVD limiter-based second-order schemes for hyperbolic conservation laws, we develop a second-order accurate numerical method for multi-dimensional aggregation equations. The method allows for simulations to be continued after the first blow-up time of the solution. In the case of symmetric, lambda-convex potentials with a possible Lipschitz singularity at the origin we prove that the method converges in the Monge--Kantorovich distance towards the unique gradient flow solution. Several numerical experiments are presented to validate the second-order convergence rate and to explore the performance of the scheme.