Numerical conformal mapping using cross-ratios and delaunay triangulation

Abstract

We propose a new algorithm for computing the Riemann mapping of the unit disk to a polygon, also known as the Schwarz-Christoffel transformation. The new algorithm, CRDT (for cross-ratios of the Delaunay triangulation), is based on cross-ratios of the prevertices, and also on cross-ratios of quadrilaterals in a Delaunay triangulation of the polygon. The CRDT algorithm produces an accurate representation of the Riemann mapping even in the presence of arbitrary long, thin regions in the polygon, unlike any previous conformal mapping algorithm. We believe that CRDT solves all difficulties with crowding and global convergence, although these facts depend on conjectures that we have so far not been able to prove. We demonstrate convergence with computational experiments. The Riemann mapping has applications in two-dimensional potential theory and mesh generation. We demonstrate CRDT on problems in long, thin regions in which no other known algorithm can perform comparably.