Split-Step Galerkin FE Method for Two-Dimensional Space-Fractional CNLS

In this paper, we study a split-step Galerkin finite element (FE) method for the two-dimensional Riesz space-fractional coupled nonlinear Schrödinger equations (CNLSs). The proposed method adopts a second-order split-step technique to handle the nonlinearity and FE approximation to discretize the fractional derivatives in space, which avoids iteration at each time layer. The analysis of mass conservative and convergent properties for this split-step FE scheme is performed. To test its capability, some numerical tests and the simulation of the double solitons intersection and plane wave are carried out. The results and comparisons with the algorithm combined with Newton’s iteration illustrate its effectiveness and advantages in computational efficiency.