PLUTO: a Numerical Code for Computational Astrophysics

TL;DR

PLUTO is a versatile numerical code designed for simulating hypersonic astrophysical flows across multiple dimensions and physical regimes, featuring modular algorithms for different physics and validated through standard benchmarks.

Contribution

It introduces a flexible, modular framework for astrophysical flow simulations that supports various physics modules and coordinate systems, validated with multiple benchmark tests.

Findings

Successfully simulates hypersonic flows in multiple dimensions

Supports Newtonian, relativistic, MHD, and relativistic MHD fluids

Validated against standard benchmarks in literature

Abstract

We present a new numerical code, PLUTO, for the solution of hypersonic flows in 1, 2 and 3 spatial dimensions and different systems of coordinates. The code provides a multi-physics, multi-algorithm modular environment particularly oriented towards the treatment of astrophysical flows in presence of discontinuities. Different hydrodynamic modules and algorithms may be independently selected to properly describe Newtonian, relativistic, MHD or relativistic MHD fluids. The modular structure exploits a general framework for integrating a system of conservation laws, built on modern Godunov-type shock-capturing schemes. Although a plethora of numerical methods has been successfully developed over the past two decades, the vast majority shares a common discretization recipe, involving three general steps: a piecewise polynomial reconstruction followed by the solution of Riemann problems at zone interfaces and a final evolution stage. We have checked and validated the code against several benchmarks available in literature. Test problems in 1, 2 and 3 dimensions are discussed.