Higher-order Advection-based Remap of Magnetic Fields in an Arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian Code
Brian Cornille, University of Wisconsin-Madison
We will present methods formulated for the Eulerian advection stage of an arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian code for the new addition of magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) effects. The various physical fields are advanced in time using a Lagrangian formulation of the system. When this Lagrangian motion produces substantial distortion of the mesh, it can be difficult or impossible to progress the simulation. This is overcome by relaxing the mesh while the physical fields are frozen. The code has already successfully been extended to include evolution of magnetic field diffusion during the Lagrangian motion stage. This magnetic field is discretized using an H(div)-compatible finite element basis. The advantage of this basis is that the divergence-free constraint of magnetic fields is maintained exactly during the Lagrangian motion evolution. Our goal is to also preserve this property during Eulerian advection. We will demonstrate this property and the importance of MHD effects in several numerical experiments. In pulsed-power experiments magnetic fields may be imposed or spontaneously generated. When these magnetic fields are present, the evolution of the experiment may differ from a comparable configuration without magnetic fields.
Abstract Author(s): B.S. Cornille, D.A. White