A Nonlinear Difference Scheme and Inverse Scattering

A nonlinear partial difference equation is obtained and solved by the method of inverse scattering. In a certain continuum limit it is shown how this equation approximates the nonlinear Schrodinger equation and a related nonlinear differential-difference equation. At all times the solutions can be compared, and the scheme is shown to be convergent. These ideas apply to other nonlinear evolution equations as well.