MATLAB provides a suite of ODE-solvers. To create a combined
integration-continuation environment, we have made them all accessible in MATCONT
and added two new ones, ode78 and ode87.
ode78 is an explicit Runge-Kutta method that uses 7th order Fehlberg formulas
[Fehlberg 1969]. This is a 7-8th-order accurate integrator, therefore the local error normally
expected is . ode87 is a Runge-Kutta method that uses
8-7th order Dorman and Prince formulas. See [Prince and Dorman 1981].
This is a 8th-order accurate integrator therefore the local error normally
expected is
. In MATCONT the choice of the solver is made via the Integrator window that is
opened automatically when the curve type O (Orbit) is chosen.
We note that the Starter window has a SelectCycle button that allows to start the continuation of
periodic orbits from curves computed by time integration.