An accurate solution of parabolic equations by expansion in ultraspherical polynomials

An ultraspherical expansion technique is applied to obtain numerically the solution of the third boundary value problem for linear parabolic partial differential equation in one-space variable. The differential equation with its boundary and initial conditions is reduced to a system of ordinary differential equations for the coefficients of the expansion. This system may be solved analytically or numerically in a step-by-step manner. The method in its present form may be considered as a generalization of that of Dew and Scraton. The extension of the method to the polar-type equations is also considered. (author). 12 refs, 1 tab