Variational integration for ideal magnetohydrodynamics with built-in advection equations

Journal Article · Wed Oct 15 04:00:00 EDT 2014 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4897372· OSTI ID:22299652

Zhou, Yao; Burby, J. W.; Bhattacharjee, A. ^[1]; Qin, Hong ^[1]

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1. Plasma Physics Laboratory, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08543 (United States)

Newcomb's Lagrangian for ideal magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) in Lagrangian labeling is discretized using discrete exterior calculus. Variational integrators for ideal MHD are derived thereafter. Besides being symplectic and momentum-preserving, the schemes inherit built-in advection equations from Newcomb's formulation, and therefore avoid solving them and the accompanying error and dissipation. We implement the method in 2D and show that numerical reconnection does not take place when singular current sheets are present. We then apply it to studying the dynamics of the ideal coalescence instability with multiple islands. The relaxed equilibrium state with embedded current sheets is obtained numerically.

• OSTI ID: 22299652
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas, Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas Journal Issue: 10 Vol. 21; ISSN PHPAEN; ISSN 1070-664X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
ADVECTION
CURRENTS
EQUATIONS
EQUILIBRIUM
LAGRANGIAN FUNCTION
MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS
PLASMA INSTABILITY
SHEETS
VARIATIONAL METHODS