Magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulations are an important tool to better understand the complex physics of astrophysical and geophysical plasma flows.  As the frontiers are constantly pushed towards more accurate, faster and higher resolved simulations new mathematical approaches are needed to meet these goals. Therefore, the conference Numerical Techniques in MHD Simulations (MHD-SIM) focuses on recent developments of numerical techniques, models, and algorithms to address challenging science questions in computational space and astrophysics. Our conference covers various approaches to describe plasmas as a fluid, i.e., single fluid, multi-fluid and Hall-MHD approaches. The aim is to bring together researchers of several fields, such as applied mathematics, computer science, space science and astrophysics, in order to foster interdisciplinary discussions and to stimulate potential future collaborations.

SPEAKERS

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS:

 

Michael Dumbser

Department of Civil, Environmental and Mechanical Engineering, University of Trento, Italy

 

Gabor Toth

Department of Climate and Space,
University of Michigan, USA

 

Rony Keppens

Centre for Mathematical Plasma Astrophysics,
KU Leuven, Belgium

 

Christian Klingenberg

Institute of Mathematics,
University of Würzburg, Germany

 

Daniel Price

Monash Centre for Astrophysics

School of Physics and Astronomy

Monash University, Australia

 

Helen Yee

NASA Ames Research Center,
Moffett Field, USA

 

 

INVITED SPEAKERS:

 

Emmanuel Chané

Centre for Mathematical Plasma Astrophysics,
KU Leuven, Belgium

 

Lea Griton

LESIA - Observatoire de Paris, France

 

Michal Hanasz

Centre for Astronomy, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Poland

 

Alex Lazarian

Department of Astronomy,
University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA

 

John Lyon

Dept. Physics and Astronomy

Dartmouth College

 

Paolo Pagano

University of St Andrews, UK

 

Daniel Verscharen

Institute for the Study of Earth, Oceans, and Space

University of New Hampshire, USA

 

by courtesy of E. Chané, KU Leuven, 2017

The international conference on Numerical techniques in MHD simulations (MHD-SIM) is hosted by the Competence Area 3: Quantitative Modeling of Complex Systems of the University of Cologne, Germany. It is organized by the Institute of Mathematics, the 1st Institute of Physics (Astrophysics), and the Institute of Geophysics & Meteorology, and will take place at the UoC's New Seminar Building (Universitätsstr. 37, building 106).

 

 

Scientific Organizing Committee

 

Gregor Gassner

Mathematical Insitute, University of Cologne, Germany

 

Stefaan Poedts

Centre for Mathematical Plasma Astrophysics, KU Leuven, Belgium

 

Joachim Saur

Institute of Geophysics & Meteorology, University of Cologne, Germany

 

Gabor Toth

Department of Climate and Space, University of Michigan, USA

 

Stefanie Walch-Gassner

1st Institute of Physics, University of Cologne, Germany

Pre-Conference Workshop

© Axel Schulten

The participants of the workshop will get a crash course on the development of a modern MHD solver. The course is designed such, that no former experience in developing a MHD solver is required, except for a sound education in natural sciences or mathematics (or related fields) and some very basic experience in programming e.g. with MATLAB.

 

The course starts with a theory session, where the necessary details and background information of finite volume methods for the ideal MHD is explained. The remainder of the course is dedicated to the actual implementation of the finite volume MHD solver: each participant gets a detailed step by step description and individual support throughout the session by tutors in how to implement a finite volume ideal MHD solver in two space dimensions in MATLAB. Focus lies on the data structure, the slope reconstruction, the Riemann solvers, the time integrator and the divB=0 condition.

The goal of the pre-conference workshop is that in the final session every participant uses his own code to successfully simulate MHD shock-turbulence interaction.

 

The pre-conference workshop took place at the 14th-15th
of August 2017 at the Mathematical Institute, University of Cologne (Weyertal 86-90, 50931 Cologne).

 

Downloads:

Program of the Pre-Conference Workshop (pdf)

Lecture slides: part 1  part 2  part 3

Project description