paper

Introducing PHAEDRA: a new spectral code for simulations of relativistic magnetospheres

arXiv:1110.6669 · doi:10.1111/j.1365-2966.2012.20969.x

Abstract

We describe a new scheme for evolving the equations of force-free electrodynamics, the vanishing-inertia limit of magnetohydrodynamics. This pseudospectral code uses global orthogonal basis function expansions to take accurate spatial derivatives, allowing the use of an unstaggered mesh and the complete force-free current density. The method has low numerical dissipation and diffusion outside of singular current sheets. We present a range of one- and two-dimensional tests, and demonstrate convergence to both smooth and discontinuous analytic solutions. As a first application, we revisit the aligned rotator problem, obtaining a steady solution with resistivity localised in the equatorial current sheet outside the light cylinder.

23 pages, 18 figures, accepted for publication in MNRAS

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