Astron. Astrophys. 336, 791-801 (1998)

A high Reynolds number algorithm for polytropic accretion disk studies

Michiel D., Nauta and Gábor Tóth ^*

Astronomical Institute, Utrecht University, P.O. Box 80 000, 3508 TA Utrecht, The Netherlands

Received 2 September 1997 / Accepted 12 May 1998

Abstract

An algorithm is proposed to study two-dimensional vortices in thin, polytropic accretion disks. It is based on a method which has been used to study vortices in planetary atmospheres. It is special in that it conserves both energy and potential enstrophy in the absence of dissipation. This leads to desirable stability properties which permit calculations at relatively high Reynolds numbers. The algorithm is tested and compared to existing methods, in particular with a Total Variation Diminishing method.

Key words: accretion, accretion disks hydrodynamics turbulence methods: numerical

* Present address: Dept. of Atomic Physics, Eötvös University, Puskin u. 5-7, 1088 Budapest, Hungary

Send offprint requests to: m.d.nauta@fys.ruu.nl

© European Southern Observatory (ESO) 1998

Online publication: July 20, 1998

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