Smoothing properties and approximation of time derivatives for parabolic equations: variable time steps

Abstract We study smoothing properties and approximation of time derivatives for time discretization schemes with variable time steps for a homogeneous parabolic problem formulated as an abstract initial value problem in a Banach space. The time stepping methods are based on using rational approximations to the exponential function which are A()-stable for suitable (0,/2] with unit bounded maximum norm. First- and second-order approximations of time derivatives based on using difference quotients are considered. Smoothing properties are derived and error estimates are established under the so-called increasing quasi-quasiuniform assumption on the time steps