Analysis of the error for approximations to systems of hyperbolic equations (Q1306097)

The wave equation may be expressed as either a scalar second order equation or a system of first order equations. Both sets can be approximated by finite difference methods. The accucracy of these two approaches is compared in the paper. It turns out that the approximation of the first order system may be of lower accuracy in \(L_{2}\). To resolve this paradox the authors study the amplitude and phase errors. Pre- and post-processing are provided that try to resolve the paradox.