Locally conservative finite difference schemes for the modified KdV equation (Q2297881)

In this paper, finite difference schemes are developed for the modified Korteweg-de Vries (mKdV) equation that preserve two conservation laws by symbolic computation. The mKdV equation with the cubic nonlinear term \[ u_t+u^2u_x+u_{xxx}=0, \] possesses two invariants \[ \mathcal{H}=-\int \left (\frac{1}{12}u^4+\frac{1}2uu_{xx} \right) \mathrm{d} x ,\qquad \mathcal{D}=D_x, \] \[ \mathcal{H}=-\int \frac{1}{2}u^2\,\mathrm{d}x, \qquad \mathcal{D}=D_x^3+\frac{1}{2}(u^2D_x+uu_x), \] in the bi-Hamiltonian form \[ u_t=\mathcal{D}\frac{\delta}{\delta u}\mathcal{H},\qquad \mathcal{H}=\int H([u]) \mathrm{d} x. \] Four new one-parameter families of schemes are constructed by considering stencils with eight and ten nodes that preserve two conservation laws of the mKdV equation. The average vector field (AFV) schemes introduced in [\textit{G. R. W. Quispel} and \textit{ G. S. Turner}, J. Phys. A, Math. Gen. 29, No. 13, L341--L349 (1996; Zbl 0901.34022)] are found to be the simplest member of this family. Each of the families includes schemes that are very accurate. However, none of them preserve the first three conservation laws, energy, momentum, and mass. The error in the third invariant can be minimized by choosing the value of the parameter. Extensive numerical tests have been performed with eleven different schemes for two benchmark problem demonstrate the effectiveness of the new schemes compared with multisymplectic and narrow box schemes, each of which preserves mass, but not momentum or energy.