A Godunov Method for Multidimensional Radiation Magnetohydrodynamics based on a variable Eddington tensor

TL;DR

This paper introduces a multidimensional Godunov numerical algorithm for radiation magnetohydrodynamics that accurately solves the radiation moment equations using a variable Eddington tensor, validated through extensive tests across diverse regimes.

Contribution

The paper presents a novel Godunov method for radiation MHD that avoids diffusion approximations by directly solving the moment equations with a variable Eddington tensor derived from formal transfer solutions.

Findings

Method is accurate across a wide range of regimes.

Compared to flux-limited diffusion, the method is more accurate and often similarly efficient.

Identifies regimes where the method needs improvement, especially with high radiation pressure and absorption opacity.

Abstract

We describe a numerical algorithm to integrate the equations of radiation magnetohydrodynamics in multidimensions using Godunov methods. This algorithm solves the radiation moment equations in the mixed frame, without invoking any diffusion-like approximations. The moment equations are closed using a variable Eddington tensor whose components are calculated from a formal solution of the transfer equation at a large number of angles using the method of short characteristics. We use a comprehensive test suite to verify the algorithm, including convergence tests of radiation-modified linear acoustic and magnetosonic waves, the structure of radiation modified shocks, and two-dimensional tests of photon bubble instability and the ablation of dense clouds by an intense radiation field. These tests cover a very wide range of regimes, including both optically thick and thin flows, and ratios of the radiation to gas pressure of at least 10^{-4} to 10^{4}. Across most of the parameter space, we find the method is accurate. However, the tests also reveal there are regimes where the method needs improvement, for example when both the radiation pressure and absorption opacity are very large. We suggest modifications to the algorithm that will improve accuracy in this case. We discuss the advantages of this method over those based on flux-limited diffusion. In particular, we find the method is not only substantially more accurate, but often no more expensive than the diffusion approximation for our intended applications.