The muphyII code: Multiphysics plasma simulation on large HPC systems

Abstract

Collisionless astrophysical and space plasmas cover regions that typically display a separation of scales that exceeds any code's capabilities. To help address this problem, the muphyII code utilizes a hierarchy of models with different inherent scales, unified in an adaptive framework that allows stand-alone use of models as well as a model-based dynamic and adaptive domain decomposition. This requires ensuring excellent conservation properties, careful treatment of inner-domain model boundaries for interface coupling, and robust time-stepping algorithms, especially with the use of electron subcycling. This multi-physics approach is implemented in the muphyII code, tested on different scenarios of space plasma magnetic reconnection, and evaluated against space probe data and higher-fidelity simulation results from literature. Adaptive model refinement is highlighted in particular, and a hybrid model with kinetic ions, pressure-tensor fluid electrons, and Maxwell fields is appraised.