Modified equations for variational integrators applied to Lagrangians linear in velocities (Q2329700)

Modified equations of symmetric two-step variational integrators, implicit-mid point rules, and trapezoidal rules, are here constructed for a degenerate continuous Lagrangian that is linear in the velocities. The dynamics of point vortices in the plane and the nonlinear Schrödinger equation whose kinetic term is linear in the time-derivatives are well-known examples of degenerate Lagrangians. The construction of modified Lagrangians for variational integrators is based on the author's earlier work [Numer. Math. 137, No. 4, 1001--1037 (2017; Zbl 1378.65185)] by adapting the procedure for non-degenerate Lagrangians. In the case of degenerate Lagrangians, the dimension of the full discrete system of modified equations is doubled. The system of modified equations consists of the principal modified equation and one additional equation describing parasitic oscillations. Numerical examples on the pendulum equation and point vertices in the plane show that the trapezoidal rule exhibit parasitic oscillations, whereas the mid-point rule, does not, as expected from the variational equations.