A finite difference scheme for solving a non-linear Schrödinger equation with a linear damping term (Q580943)

The usually smooth solutions presented by \textit{M. Delfour}, \textit{M. Fortin} and \textit{G. Payre} [(*) ibid. 44, 277-288 (1981; Zbl 0477.65086)] for the solution of \[ i\partial u/\partial t+ivu-\nabla^ 2u+\lambda u(| u|^{p-1}+\alpha r)=0 \] have oscillations for the case \(v\neq 0\). This is traced to an incorrect discretization. The problem is eliminated by a transformation \(u=e^{-vt}w\) which facilitates a correct discretization and which is identical to the numerical scheme in (*) for \(v=0\). The same test case is used as in (*) and the sawtooth oscillations originally found were not present.