Gudonov methods for solution of full ten-moment plasma model

Abstract

Summary form only given. Gudonov methods for the solution of the full ten-moment plasma model are presented. The ten-moment model belongs to the class of two-fluid fluid models based on the moments of the Vlasov equation. The model takes into account electron inertia, displacement current, non-neutral effects and full anisotropic pressure tensor for both the electron and ion fluids. Unlike tradition gyroviscous models, the ten-moment model computes the pressure tensor self-consistently by evolving it using a set of pressure-tensor moment equations. For closure, the third-order heat tensor is set to zero. The Gudonov method used is a shock capturing finite-volume method based on solving Riemann problems at cell interfaces. Two problems are studied to benchmark the model. The first is a Rayleigh-Taylor instability, for which analytical growth rate results are available. The second is the GEM magnetic reconnection challenge problem. For both problems the simulations are compared with results from a previously published full two-fluid model in which the pressure tensor is isotropic. For the Rayleigh-Taylor instability it is seen that the pressure anisotropies lead to stabilization as compared to the two-fluid model. Effects of anisotropic pressure tensor in the magnetic reconnection are also discussed