Grid-based hydrodynamics in astrophysical fluid flows

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38 Scopus citations

Abstract

In this review, the equations of hydrodynamics, magnetohydrodynamics, and radiation hydrodynamics are presented, together with their corresponding nonideal source terms. I overview the current landscape of modern grid-based numerical techniques with an emphasis on numerical diffusion, which plays a fundamental role in stabilizing the solution but is also the main source of errors associated with these numerical techniques. I discuss in great detail the inclusion of additional important source terms, such as cooling and gravity. I also show how to modify classic operator-splitting techniques to avoid undesirable numerical errors associated with these additional source terms, in particular in the presence of highly supersonic flows. I finally present various mesh adaptation strategies that can be used to minimize these numerical errors. To conclude, I review existing astrophysical software that is publicly available to perform simulations for such astrophysical fluids.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)325-364
Number of pages40
JournalAnnual Review of Astronomy and Astrophysics
Volume53
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 18 2015
Externally publishedYes

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
  • Space and Planetary Science

Keywords

  • Conservation laws
  • Gas dynamics
  • Magnetohydrodynamics
  • Numerical simulations
  • Radiation

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