Numerical approximation of quadratic observables of Schrödinger-type equations in the semi-classical limit

Abstract.

We apply Wigner-transform techniques to the analysis of difference methods for Schrödinger-type equations in the case of a small Planck constant. In this way we are able to obtain sharp conditions on the spatial-temporal grid which guarantee convergence for average values of observables as the Planck constant tends to zero. The theory developed in this paper is not based on local and global error estimates and does not depend on whether caustics develop or not. Numerical test examples are presented to help interpret the theory.