A class of symplectic partitioned Runge–Kutta methods

This paper deals with some relevant properties of Runge–Kutta (RK) methods and symplectic partitioned Runge–Kutta (PRK) methods. First, it is shown that the arithmetic mean of a RK method and its adjoint counterpart is symmetric. Second, the symplectic adjoint method is introduced and a simple way to construct symplectic PRK methods via the symplectic adjoint method is provided. Some relevant properties of the adjoint method and the symplectic adjoint method are discussed. Third, a class of symplectic PRK methods are proposed based on Radau IA, Radau IIA and their adjoint methods. The structure of the PRK methods is similar to that of Lobatto IIIA–IIIB pairs and is of block forms. Finally, some examples of symplectic partitioned Runge–Kutta methods are presented.