Johnson's log derivative algorithm rederived (Q1208902)

Since about 20 years a lot of people use a special stable and efficient numerical method (called Johnson's log derivative algorithm) to integrate radial matrix Schrödinger equations of the form \(\psi''(r)= W(r)\psi(r)\), where \(W(r)\) and \(\psi(r)\) are \((N\times N)\)-matrices and \('=d/dr\). The authors give a derivation of this method based solely on finite difference approximations to \(\psi(r)\) and point out, that the above method is stable in regions where the solution \(\psi(r)\) is slowly varying. In practice for higher energy scattering problems it is recommended to combine the algorithm with an approximate potential algorithm at long range (large \(r\)), where the potential is varying more slowly than the wave function.