Multi-symplectic Fourier pseudospectral method for the nonlinear Schrödinger equation (Q5942487)

The nonlinear Schrödinger (NLS) equation on the real space with periodic boundary conditions is interesting as a model with numerically induced chaos. Its numerical solution is considered using \(N\) equidistant collocation points in combination with the Fourier transformation (also modified to the fast Fourier transformation). As a key ingredient and mechanism of error control the symplectic (multisymplectic) structure of the Hamiltonian system in question is employed, and it is required (and achieved) that \(N\) conservation laws exist after the discretization (in numerical experiments, the local energy conservation is being monitored for illustration and/or as a test of coarseness of the discretization). The algorithm proves to be efficient. Its idea is taken from an unpublished work by Bridges and Reich on similar equations [viz., Zakharov Kuznetsov equations and equations describing shallow-water in one dimension]. Its implementation to the NLS problem is based on the presence of two pre-symplectic forms (characterized by the respective four-by-four skew-symmetric matrices \(M\) and \(K)\) and on the related energy conservation and momentum conservation laws. Technically, the resulting Runge Kutta discretization with conservation is rendered feasibly by the successful evaluation of differentiation matrices at collocation points in closed form.