Efficient method to calculate the eigenvalues of the Zakharov–Shabat system

Abstract

A numerical method is proposed to calculate the eigenvalues of the Zakharov–Shabat system based on Chebyshev polynomials. A mapping in the form of tanh(ax) is constructed according to the asymptotic of the potential function for the Zakharov–Shabat eigenvalue problem. The mapping can distribute Chebyshev nodes very well considering the gradient for the potential function. Using Chebyshev polynomials, tanh(ax) mapping, and Chebyshev nodes, the Zakharov–Shabat eigenvalue problem is transformed into a matrix eigenvalue problem. This method has good convergence for the Satsuma–Yajima potential and the convergence rate is faster than the Fourier collocation method. This method is not only suitable for simple potential functions but also converges quickly for a complex Y-shape potential. It can also be further extended to other linear eigenvalue problems.