Higher-order averaging, formal series and numerical integration. I: B-series (Q604687)

The aim of the paper is to relate the method of averaging to formal series expansions that are nowadays used as a powerful tool in the analysis of numerical integrators of time-dependent problems. The present work is restricted to B-series and systems with a single fast frequency; Part II will deal with other types of formal series and with quasi-periodic problems. The concept of B-series has been introduced in 1974 by \textit{E. Hairer} and \textit{G. Wanner} [Computing 13, 1--15 (1974; Zbl 0293.65050)]. The authors show how B-series may be used to derive in a systematic way the analytical expressions of the higher-order stroboscopic averaged equations that approximate the slow dynamics of highly oscillatory systems. For first-order systems they explicitly give the form of the averaged systems, with \(O(\varepsilon^j)\) errors, \(j = 1,2,3\) (\(2\pi\varepsilon\) denotes the period of the fast oscillations). For second-order systems with large \(O(\varepsilon^{-1})\) forces, the explicit form of the averaged systems with \(O(\varepsilon^j)\) errors, \(j=1,2\), is given. A variant of the Fermi-Pasta-Ulam model and the inverted Kapitsa pendulum are used for illustrations. For the former, it is shown that the presented approach establishes the adiabatic invariance of the oscillatory energy. B-series are also used to analyze multi-scale numerical integrators that implement the method of averaging.