Discrete Hodge operators

Many linear boundary value problems arising in computational physics can be formulated in the calculus of differential forms. Discrete differential forms provide a natural and canonical approach to their discretization. However, much freedom remains concerning the choice of discrete Hodge operators, that is, discrete analogues of constitutive laws. A generic discrete Hodge operator is introduced and it turns out that most finite element and finite volume schemes emerge as its specializations. We reap the possibility of a unified convergence analysis in the framework of discrete exterior calculus.