[petsc-users] VecPow clarification

[Peder Jørgensgaard Olesen]

Given a vector containing roots of unity, v[i] = exp(i*k*x[i]) I wanted to compute the vector u[i]=exp(i*n*k*x[i]), for some real number n. From the face of it this should be easily achieved with VecPow, as u[i] = v[i]^n.

That didn't work as expected, though I got around it using VecGetArray() and a loop with PetscPowComplex(). The source designated in the docs (src/vec/vec/utils/projection.c) reveals that VecPow() maps v[i] to PETSC_INFINITY when the PetscRealPart(v[i]) < 0, unless the power is any of 0, ±0.5, ±1 or ±2. Even in the simple case of a purely real vector (with negative entries) raised to any other integer power, the results would not be what one might  reasonably expect from the description of VecPow().

While I do have a solution suiting my need, I'm left wondering what might be the rationale for VecPow working the way it does.

Best,
Peder
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