Gegenbauer spectral method for time-fractional convection-diffusion equations with variable coefficients

In this paper, we study the numerical solution to time-fractional partial differential equations with variable coefficients that involve temporal Caputo derivative. A spectral method based on Gegenbauer polynomials is taken for approximating the solution of the given time-fractional partial differential equation in time and a collocation method in space. The suggested method reduces this type of equation to the solution of a linear algebraic system. Finally, some numerical examples are presented to illustrate the efficiency and accuracy of the proposed method. Copyright (C) 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.