The Pencil Code, a modular MPI code for partial differential equations and particles: multipurpose and multiuser-maintained

TL;DR

The Pencil Code is a versatile, modular MPI-based simulation framework designed for solving PDEs in hydrodynamics, magnetohydrodynamics, and other physics applications, supporting particles and multiuser maintenance.

Contribution

It introduces a highly adaptable, modular MPI code capable of handling a wide range of physics simulations, including PDEs, particles, and various application domains.

Findings

Supports diverse physics applications from astrophysics to engineering.

Enables evolution of particles and their interactions with fluids.

Flexible framework adaptable to non-hydrodynamic problems.

Abstract

The Pencil Code is a highly modular physics-oriented simulation code that can be adapted to a wide range of applications. It is primarily designed to solve partial differential equations (PDEs) of compressible hydrodynamics and has lots of add-ons ranging from astrophysical magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) to meteorological cloud microphysics and engineering applications in combustion. Nevertheless, the framework is general and can also be applied to situations not related to hydrodynamics or even PDEs, for example when just the message passing interface or input/output strategies of the code are to be used. The code can also evolve Lagrangian (inertial and noninertial) particles, their coagulation and condensation, as well as their interaction with the fluid.