PETSc version 3.16.5
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# KSPSetOperators

Sets the matrix associated with the linear system and a (possibly) different one associated with the preconditioner.

### Synopsis

    #include "petscksp.h"
    PetscErrorCode  KSPSetOperators(KSP ksp,Mat Amat,Mat Pmat)

Collective on ksp

### Input Parameters

| ksp | - the KSP context
| Amat | - the matrix that defines the linear system
| Pmat | - the matrix to be used in constructing the preconditioner, usually the same as Amat.

### Notes

If you know the operator Amat has a null space you can use MatSetNullSpace() and MatSetTransposeNullSpace() to supply the null space to Amat and the KSP solvers will automatically use that null space as needed during the solution process.

All future calls to KSPSetOperators() must use the same size matrices!

Passing a NULL for Amat or Pmat removes the matrix that is currently used.

If you wish to replace either Amat or Pmat but leave the other one untouched then first call KSPGetOperators() to get the one you wish to keep, call PetscObjectReference() on it and then pass it back in in your call to KSPSetOperators().

Alternative usage: If the operators have NOT been set with KSP/PCSetOperators() then the operators are created in PC and returned to the user. In this case, if both operators mat and pmat are requested, two DIFFERENT operators will be returned. If only one is requested both operators in the PC will be the same (i.e. as if one had called KSP/PCSetOperators() with the same argument for both Mats). The user must set the sizes of the returned matrices and their type etc just as if the user created them with MatCreate(). For example,

            KSP/PCGetOperators(ksp/pc,&mat,NULL); is equivalent to

              set size, type, etc of mat

            MatCreate(comm,&mat);

            KSP/PCSetOperators(ksp/pc,mat,mat);

            PetscObjectDereference((PetscObject)mat);

              set size, type, etc of mat

and

            KSP/PCGetOperators(ksp/pc,&mat,&pmat); is equivalent to

              set size, type, etc of mat and pmat

            MatCreate(comm,&mat);

            MatCreate(comm,&pmat);

            KSP/PCSetOperators(ksp/pc,mat,pmat);

            PetscObjectDereference((PetscObject)mat);

            PetscObjectDereference((PetscObject)pmat);

              set size, type, etc of mat and pmat

The rational for this support is so that when creating a TS, SNES, or KSP the hierarchy of underlying objects (i.e. SNES, KSP, PC, Mat) and their livespans can be completely managed by the top most level object (i.e. the TS, SNES, or KSP). Another way to look at this is when you create a SNES you do not NEED to create a KSP and attach it to the SNES object (the SNES object manages it for you). Similarly when you create a KSP you do not need to attach a PC to it (the KSP object manages the PC object for you). Thus, why should YOU have to create the Mat and attach it to the SNES/KSP/PC, when it can be created for you?

### See Also

KSPSolve(), KSPGetPC(), PCGetOperators(), PCSetOperators(), KSPGetOperators(), KSPSetComputeOperators(), KSPSetComputeInitialGuess(), KSPSetComputeRHS()

### Level

beginner

### Location

src/ksp/ksp/interface/itcreate.c

### Examples

src/dm/impls/stag/tutorials/ex1.c.html
src/dm/impls/stag/tutorials/ex2.c.html
src/dm/impls/stag/tutorials/ex3.c.html
src/dm/impls/stag/tutorials/ex4.c.html
src/ksp/pc/tutorials/ex1.c.html
src/ksp/pc/tutorials/ex2.c.html
src/ksp/pc/tutorials/ex3.c.html
src/ksp/ksp/tutorials/ex1.c.html
src/ksp/ksp/tutorials/ex2.c.html
src/ksp/ksp/tutorials/ex3.c.html
src/ksp/ksp/tutorials/ex4.c.html
Index of all KSP routines
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Index of all manual pages