MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMIC MODELING OF SOLAR SYSTEM PROCESSES ON GEODESIC GRIDS

Journal Article · Mon Apr 01 00:00:00 EDT 2013 · Astrophysical Journal, Supplement Series

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1088/0067-0049/205/2/19· OSTI ID:22156556

Florinski, V. ^[1]; Guo, X. ^[2]; Balsara, D. S.; Meyer, C. ^[3]

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1. Department of Physics, University of Alabama, Huntsville, AL 35899 (United States)
2. Center for Space Plasma and Aeronomic Research, University of Alabama, Huntsville, AL 35899 (United States)
3. Department of Physics, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556 (United States)

This report describes a new magnetohydrodynamic numerical model based on a hexagonal spherical geodesic grid. The model is designed to simulate astrophysical flows of partially ionized plasmas around a central compact object, such as a star or a planet with a magnetic field. The geodesic grid, produced by a recursive subdivision of a base platonic solid (an icosahedron), is free from control volume singularities inherent in spherical polar grids. Multiple populations of plasma and neutral particles, coupled via charge-exchange interactions, can be simulated simultaneously with this model. Our numerical scheme uses piecewise linear reconstruction on a surface of a sphere in a local two-dimensional 'Cartesian' frame. The code employs Haarten-Lax-van-Leer-type approximate Riemann solvers and includes facilities to control the divergence of the magnetic field and maintain pressure positivity. Several test solutions are discussed, including a problem of an interaction between the solar wind and the local interstellar medium, and a simulation of Earth's magnetosphere.

• OSTI ID: 22156556
• Journal Information: Astrophysical Journal, Supplement Series, Vol. 205, Issue 2; Other Information: Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0067-0049
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

79 ASTROPHYSICS
COSMOLOGY AND ASTRONOMY
ASTROPHYSICS
CHARGE-EXCHANGE INTERACTIONS
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
EARTH MAGNETOSPHERE
GEODESICS
GRIDS
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS
NEUTRAL PARTICLES
PLANETS
PLASMA
SATELLITES
SOLAR SYSTEM
SOLAR WIND
SPHERICAL CONFIGURATION
STARS
TWO-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS