On the rotating nonlinear Klein-Gordon equation with multiscale effects: structure-preserving methods and applications to vortex dynamics

Abstract

We study numerical methods for the rotating nonlinear Klein-Gordon (RKG) equation, a fundamental model in relativistic quantum physics, which exhibits highly oscillatory multiscale behavior due to the presence of a small parameter ε. The RKG equation models rotating galaxies under the Minkowski metric and also provides an effective description of phenomena such as cosmic superfluids. This work focuses on the development and rigorous analysis of structure-preserving Galerkin finite element methods (FEMs) for the RKG equation. A central challenge is that the rotational terms prevent traditional nonconforming FEMs from simultaneously conserving energy and charge. By employing a conservation-adjusting technique, we construct a consistent structure-preserving algorithm applicable to both conforming and nonconforming FEMs. Moreover, we provide a comprehensive convergence analysis, establishing unconditional optimal and high-order accuracy error estimates. These theoretical results are further validated through extensive numerical experiments, which demonstrate the accuracy, efficiency, and robustness of the structure-preserving schemes. Finally, simulations of vortex dynamics, ranging from the relativistic to the nonrelativistic regimes, are presented to illustrate vortex creation, relativistic effects on bound states, and interactions of vortex pairs.