Some applications of semi-discrete variational integrators to classical field theories (Q1011804)

The authors develop a geometric form of a semi-discrete variational calculus with the goal of applying it to the numerical integration of classical field theories. As a motivating example, all constructions are demonstrated for a nonlinear wave equation. The starting point is the discretisation of all spatial derivatives appearing in the Lagrangian. There are two natural choices for the function space which is the basis of the subsequent semi-discrete variational calculus; they are characterised by different boundary conditions. For both choices the authors define a semi-discrete action and semi-discrete Euler-Lagrange equations with the corresponding semi-discrete flow. Furthermore, they define Poincaré-Cartan forms, Legendre transformations and, in the case that a symmetry group is present, a momentum map.