Global MHD--Boltzmann model of the outer heliosphere based on high-resolution shock-capturing methods, adaptive mesh refinement techniques, and Monte Carlo simulations

Physics

Scientific paper

Rate now

  [ 0.00 ] – not rated yet Voters 0   Comments 0

Details

2124 Heliopause And Solar Wind Termination, 2126 Heliosphere/Interstellar Medium Interactions, 2134 Interplanetary Magnetic Fields, 2162 Solar Cycle Variations (7536), 2194 Instruments And Techniques

Scientific paper

We present results of the development of a global, three-dimensional, MHD--Boltzmann model of the outer heliosphere performed with the support of the NASA Solar and Heliospheric Physics Supporting Research and Technology grant. Interaction of the solar wind (SW) with the local interstellar medium (LISM) has long been attacked with some success, for realistic physical statements, using basic continuum models, typically gas dynamic or magnetohydrodynamic (MHD). Because of charge exchange, photoionization, electron impact, and related processes, this interaction represents, however, a mixed flow of charged and neutral particles, whose individual properties are very different. The plasma component, due to collisions in the LISM and collective processes in the SW, can be treated as a gas experiencing shock compressions on the both sides of the heliopause. Although sophisticated fluid models of the neutral interstellar gas can capture qualitatively some aspects of the neutral-plasma interaction, a completely accurate description, because of the large mean free-path for neutrals, is only possible using a kinetic approach. The development of a fully kinetic model is especially desirable in view of the necessity to adequately describe the transport of different types of neutral particles into the heliosphere and, by comparing theoretical results with the NASA spacecraft measurements, determine the properties of the Local Interstellar Cloud. We develop a self-consistent, MHD--Boltzmann model of the heliosphere involving high-resolution shock-capturing methods for solving the MHD equations with the help of the adaptive mesh-refinement technique and state-of-the-art splitting methods for the efficient implementation of the Monte Carlo algorithm on massively parallel computer clusters. High-resolution solutions are shown of the SW--LISM interaction obtained both on the basis of fluid and fluid-kinetic approaches. A numerical tool is described that efficiently solves multi-shocked magnetized plasma flows on adaptively refined meshes. The basis of the AMR technique is provided by the Chombo package (PI P. Colella). Extensive tests are performed for 1- and 2-dimensional MHD problems of substantial complexity. The results of the 3D MHD--Boltzmann calculations are for the first time presented in a realistic formulation that take into account the coupling between the interstellar and interplanetary magnetic fields. Neutral hydrogen distributions are compared in the kinetic and multi-fluid solutions.

No associations

LandOfFree

Say what you really think

Search LandOfFree.com for scientists and scientific papers. Rate them and share your experience with other people.

Rating

Global MHD--Boltzmann model of the outer heliosphere based on high-resolution shock-capturing methods, adaptive mesh refinement techniques, and Monte Carlo simulations does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Global MHD--Boltzmann model of the outer heliosphere based on high-resolution shock-capturing methods, adaptive mesh refinement techniques, and Monte Carlo simulations, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Global MHD--Boltzmann model of the outer heliosphere based on high-resolution shock-capturing methods, adaptive mesh refinement techniques, and Monte Carlo simulations will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

     

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-758923

  Search
All data on this website is collected from public sources. Our data reflects the most accurate information available at the time of publication.