Solving the nonlinear Klein-Gordon equation: semianalytical Galerkin method

Abstract: In this work, approximate solutions to the nonlinear Klein-Gordon equation are constructed by means of the Galerkin method. Specifically, it is shown how the dynamics of a real scalar field in $1+1$ dimensions subjected to Dirichlet boundary conditions and Mexican-hat-like potentials can be approximated by mechanical systems with a few particles. Because the approximation is performed at a Lagrangian level, one of the advantages of this method is the control over conservation laws present in the field theory, which are captured by the finite mechanical systems. Among the results, exact stationary solutions for the nonlinear KG equation are found in terms of Jacobi elliptic functions, which are shown to correspond to stationary configurations of the mechanical systems. Furthermore, numerical simulations are provided, giving hints towards the convergence of the method.