Discovering governing equations in discrete systems using PINNs

Sparse identification of nonlinear dynamical systems is a topic of continuously increasing significance in the dynamical systems community. Here we explore it at the level of lattice nonlinear dynamical systems of many degrees of freedom. We illustrate the ability of a suitable adaptation of Physics-Informed Neural Networks (PINNs) to solve the inverse problem of parameter identification in such discrete, high-dimensional systems inspired by physical applications. The methodology is illustrated in a diverse array of examples including real-field ones (ϕ⁴ and sine-Gordon), as well as complex-field (discrete nonlinear Schrödinger equation) and going beyond Hamiltonian to dissipative cases (the discrete complex Ginzburg-Landau equation). Both the successes, as well as some limitations of the method are discussed along the way.