We apply the method of finite elements to two-dimensional quantum electrodynamics. We construct gauge-invariant operator difference equations and compute the chiral anomaly in the Schwinger model. The relative error between the exact answer and the finite-element prediction vanishes like $M^{\mathrm{-}2}$, where M is the number of finite elements.

• Received 22 June 1984

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.31.383