Error propagation in the numerical integration of solitary waves. The regularized long wave equation (Q5928461)

The error propagation of time integrators of solitary wave solutions for the regularized long wave equation is studied, by using a geometric interpretation of the waves as relative equilibria. It is proved that the error growth is linear for schemes that preserve invariant quantities of the problem and quadratic for ''nonconservative'' methods. The evolution of the invariants in the numerical integration depends also on the conservation properties of the considered scheme.