Efficient approximation of minimum energy curves with interpolatory constraints

Different methods for the approximation of a set of data points with interp olatory property and appropriate boundary conditions are investigated with respect to the exact energy value. It is found that for a given set of data points on a plane, the 6-point interpolatory subdivision method could be t he best choice among the current widely used methods such as cubic splines and exponential splines due to its simplicity, locality, efficiency and mos t of all, its near-minimum energy property. Examples and graphics are provi ded to show these properties of the curves produced by the subdivision algo rithm. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.