Numerical methods that preserve properties of Hamiltonian systems,
reversible systems, differential equations on manifolds and problems
with highly oscillatory solutions are the subject of this book. A
complete self-contained theory of symplectic and symmetric methods,
which include Runge-Kutta, composition, splitting, multistep and various
specially designed integrators, is presented and their construction and
practical merits are discussed. The long-time behaviour of the numerical
solutions is studied using a backward error analysis (modified
equations) combined with KAM theory. The book is illustrated by many
figures, it treats applications from physics and astronomy and contains
many numerical experiments and comparisons of different approaches. The
second edition is substantially revised and enlarged, with many
improvements in the presentation and additions concerning in particular
non-canonical Hamiltonian systems, highly oscillatory mechanical
systems, and the dynamics of multistep methods.