We study the performance of methods of lines combining discontinuous Galerkin spatial discretizations and explicit Runge-Kutta time integrators, with the aim of deriving optimal Runge-Kutta schemes for wave propagation applications. We review relevant Runge-Kutta methods from literature, and consider schemes of order q from 3 to 4, and number of stages up to q + 4, for optimization. From a user...

K e y w o r d s O r d i n a r y differential equations, Initial value problems, Runge-Kut ta methods, Stiffness detection, Symbolic computation, Computer algebra systems, Computer generation of numerical methods. 1. I N T R O D U C T I O N A framework for explicit Runge-Kutta methods is being implemented as part of an ongoing overhaul of MATHEMATICA~S differential equation solver NDSolve. One o...