HIGH ORDER EMBEDDED RUNGE-KUTTA SCHEME FOR ADAPTIVE STEP-SIZE CONTROL IN THE INTERACTION PICTURE METHOD

Abstract

The Interaction Picture (IP) method is a valuable alternative to Split-step methods for solving certain types of partial differential equations such as the nonlinear Schrodinger equation or the Gross-Pitaevskii equation. Although very similar to the Symmetric Split-step (SS) method in its inner computational structure, the IP method results from a change of unknown and therefore do not involve approximation such as the one resulting from the use of a splitting formula. In its standard form the IP method such as the SS method is used in conjunction with the classical 4th order Runge-Kutta (RK) scheme. However it appears to be relevant to look for RK scheme of higher order so as to improve the accuracy of the IP method. In this paper we investigate 5th order Embedded Runge-Kutta schemes suited to be used in conjunction with the IP method and designed to deliver a local error estimation for adaptive step size control.