A higher-order Godunov method for the equations of ideal magnetohydrodynamics (Q1186209)

We have developed a higher-order Godunov method for the equations of ideal MHD. Our algorithm is based on the methods discussed in \textit{J. B. Bell}. \textit{Ph. Colella}, and \textit{J. A. Trangenstein} [ibid. 82, No. 2, 362-397 (1989; Zbl 0675.65090)] with appropriate extension and generalization to MHD. Our extension of the earlier definition of the flux has a natural generalization to the flux encountered in the spatially varying geometry of a multidimensional simulation. The results of some simple one-dimensional test problems show that our algorithm is sufficiently robust to deal with the lack of strict hyperbolicity as well as with the resulting degeneracy among the eigenvectors. We are in the process of constructing a multidimensional operator split code using this methodology.