# Applicable solvers for nonlinear coupled PDEs

I've been trying to find an applicable PDE solver for cases such as this:

Although when dealing with stiff equations in the complex domain, applying existing packages has been problematic.

I've looked into FiPy but it doesn't seem to be able to handle complex numbers well. A possible method was to split each function and parameters into 2 vectors denoting its real and imaginary part, although its applicability in dealing with the nonlinear PDE shown appears to complicate matters more. I'm also now looking through the documentation for FEniCS and seeing if it can be helpful (although once again complex variables seem to be problematic). I was also looking into making my own solver using basic methods such as Runge-Kutta but the solutions seem to vary wildly when I change parameters/domains. I have been looking into rezoning/adaptive stretching techniques but I will only be implementing that once I've gotten a basic PDE solver that can handle simple cases first.

Would you happen to have any recommendations for any particular packages or methods? I am currently using Python but am open to any recommendations.

One example of boundary/initial conditions would be: $$N(z,0) = \frac{1}{2} \cos(10^{-5}) \\ P(z,0) = 10^9 \sin(10^{-5}) \\ E(z,0) = 10^{10} \\ N(0,t) = \frac{1}{2} e^{\frac{-t}{10^6}} \\ P(0,t) = 10^9 e^{\frac{-t}{10^6}} \\ E(0,t) = 10^{10} e^{\frac{-t}{10^6}} \\ \\$$

(My apologies for the quite high values. This is after a rescaling to make the values closer in range, but they still are quite large. I will be working on modifying this so any suggestions with your own scalings are more than welcome.)

• Can you provide more information on these equations, e.g. boundary and initial conditions for the dependent variables? – Bill Greene Jun 12 '16 at 13:47
• A tip: You can use MathJax to typeset mathematical formulas. – Christian Clason Jun 12 '16 at 16:05
• Thank you for the link. I didn't realize it was supported here. – Mathews24 Jun 13 '16 at 15:18
• Please edit the question to include the equations and BCs, rather than putting them in a comment. – David Ketcheson Jun 13 '16 at 15:45
• Done. The conditions are in the main post. – Mathews24 Jun 13 '16 at 15:47