Positivity of Runge-Kutta and diagonally split Runge-Kutta methods (Q1294503)

The author investigates positivity of general Runge-Kutta and diagonally split Runge-Kutta methods for the numerical solution of positive initial value problems for ordinary differential equations. Conditions for the maximal stepsize in term of the radius of positivity of the Runge-Kutta method which guarantees positivity are given. The positivity thresholds for some irreducible Runge-Kutta methods for dissipative problems are computed.