Improved error bounds on a time splitting method for the nonlinear Schrödinger equation with wave operator

Abstract In this article, we study a time splitting Fourier pseudo‐spectral (TSFP) method for the nonlinear Schrödinger equation with wave operator (NLSW). The nonlinear strength of the NLSW is characterized by . Specifically, we propose a coupled system which is equivalent to the NLSW and then apply the TSFP method to this system. As a geometric advantage, the TSFP method has time symmetry and conserves the discrete mass. Rigorous convergence analysis is provided to establish improved error bounds at up to the long‐time at where depends on the smoothness of the solution. Compared with the error bounds obtained by traditional analysis, our error bounds are greatly improved, especially when the problem presents weak nonlinearity, i.e. . In error analysis, combining with classical numerical analysis tools, we adopt the regularity compensation oscillation (RCO) technique to study the error accumulation process in detail and then establish the improved error bounds. The numerical experiments support our theoretical analysis. In addition, the numerical results show the long‐term stability of discrete energy.