Solving the generalized nonlinear Schrödinger equation via quartic spline approximation (Q5929928)

The authors study a new method to compute solutions of the generalized nonlinear Schrödinger equation \[ i{\partial u\over\partial t}+ {\partial^2u\over\partial x^2}+ f(|u|^2)u= 0,\quad -\infty< x<\infty,\quad t\geq t_0 \] together with an initial condition for \(t= t_0\). Here \(i\) is the complex unit and \(f\) is a sufficiently smooth function for which \(f(0)= 0\). The proposed method is based on a semidiscretization in space where quartic spline collocations are used to deal with the space singularities. Two methods are actually discussed, distinguished only by the approximation strategies for the Neumann boundary conditions. This method allows to compute long-time solitary solutions. The paper contains a careful analysis of the continuous and discrete conservation properties as well as the stability of the method. Two numerical tests are included, a single soliton case and a collision of two solitons case. Both methods work well and there is no significant difference in the numerical results.