Evaluating modern system dynamics software for use in astrophysical simulations

Abstract

System dynamics (SD) software provides a diagrammatic way of modelling integral and differential relations in a system. In the current literature, SD software is typically applied to problems in the social sciences. However, the methods utilised in SD are not constrained to these fields, warranting novel applications in the physical sciences. Previous literature has applied SD software to time-dependent systems, but this method of modelling problems in physics has not proved popular in research, possibly due to limitations within the software available. The primary contribution of this paper is to demonstrate the application of current SD software to astrophysical phenomena in which the independent variable is not time, namely in modelling the internal structure of zero-age main-sequence stars. This demonstrates an innovative model application with the possibility for future adaptations, and extension to other astrophysical phenomena. The ease of the modelling process and validity of results for such a system is demonstrated, however a number of complications associated with current SD software were encountered. Suggestions are made as to how these may be overcome in future software iterations to make SD software more accessible to researchers in astrophysics.