On numerical relativistic hydrodynamics and barotropic equations of state
arXiv:1206.5972 · doi:10.1088/0264-9381/29/15/157001
Abstract
The characteristic formulation of the relativistic hydrodynamic equations (Donat et al 1998 J. Comput. Phys. 146 58), which has been implemented in many relativistic hydro-codes that make use of Godunov-type methods, has to be slightly modified in the case of evolving barotropic flows. For a barotropic equation of state, a removable singularity appears in one of the eigenvectors. The singularity can be avoided by means of a simple renormalization which makes the system of eigenvectors well defined and complete. An alternative strategy for the particular case of barotropic flows is discussed.
7 pages, no figures. Accepted for publication in Class. Quantum Grav