The Lie–Trotter splitting method for nonlinear evolutionary problems involving critical parameters. An exact local error representation and application to nonlinear Schrödinger equations in the semi-classical regime.

International audienceIn the present work, we investigate the error behaviour of exponential operator splitting methods for nonlinear evolutionary problems. In particular, our concern is to deduce an exact local error representation that is suitable in the presence of critical parameters. Essential tools in the theoretical analysis including time-dependent nonlinear Schrödinger equations in the semi-classical regime as well as parabolic initial-boundary value problems with high spatial gradients are an abstract formulation of differential equations on function spaces and the formal calculus of Lie-derivatives. We expose the general mechanism on the basis of the least technical example method, the first-order Lie–Trotter splittin