Coupled Domain-Boundary Variational Formulations for Hodge–Helmholtz Operators

We couple the mixed variational problem for the generalized Hodge–Helmholtz or Hodge–Laplace equation posed on a bounded 3D Lipschitz domain with the first-kind boundary integral equations arising from the latter when constant coefficients are assumed in the unbounded complement. Recently developed Calderón projectors for the relevant boundary integral operators are used to perform a symmetric coupling. We prove stability of the coupled problem away from resonant frequencies by establishing a generalized Gårding inequality (T-coercivity). The resulting system of equations describes the scattering of monochromatic electromagnetic waves at a bounded inhomogeneous isotropic body possibly having a “rough” surface. The low-frequency robustness of the potential formulation of Maxwell’s equations makes this model a promising starting point for Galerkin discretization.