Variable step implementation of geometric integrators (Q1294498)

A comparison of several techniques for combining symplectic integrators with variable steps sizes is presented. More specifically the modifications of the well-known Verlet method made by \textit{W. Huang} and \textit{B. Leimkuhler} [SIAM J. Sci. Comput. 18, No. 1, 239-256 (1997; Zbl 0877.65048)] and symplectic integrators constructed via Poincaré transformations and proposed by \textit{E. Hairer} [Appl. Numer. Math. 25, No. 2-3, 219-227 (1997; Zbl 0884.65073)] are studied. The conclusion is that for Hamiltonian problems a symplectic variable stepsize algorithm based on high-order Gauss formulae with Poincaré transformations can be compared effectively with standard variable step algorithms. For the new methods an analysis of error growth when integrating periodic orbits is given.