Ambipolar diffusion: Self-similar solutions and MHD code testing

Cylindrical symmetry^⋆

¹ Instituto de Astrofisica de Canarias, 38205 La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain
e-mail: fmi@iac.es
² Departamento de Astrofisica, Universidad de La Laguna, 38205 La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain
³ Rosseland Centre for Solar Physics, University of Oslo, PO Box 1029 Blindern, 0315 Oslo, Norway
⁴ Institute of Theoretical Astrophysics, University of Oslo, PO Box 1029 Blindern, 0315 Oslo, Norway
⁵ School of Mathematics and Statistics, University of St Andrews, St Andrews KY16 9SS, UK

Received: 1 June 2021
Accepted: 12 February 2022

Abstract

Context. Ambipolar diffusion is a process occurring in partially ionised astrophysical systems that imparts a complicated mathematical and physical nature to Ohm’s law. The numerical codes that solve the magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) equations have to be able to deal with the singularities that are naturally created in the system by the ambipolar diffusion term.

Aims. The global aim is to calculate a set of theoretical self-similar solutions to the nonlinear diffusion equation with cylindrical symmetry that can be used as tests for MHD codes which include the ambipolar diffusion term.

Methods. First, following the general methods developed in the applied mathematics literature, we obtained the theoretical solutions as eigenfunctions of a nonlinear ordinary differential equation. Phase-plane techniques were used to integrate through the singularities at the locations of the nulls, which correspond to infinitely sharp current sheets. In the second half of the paper, we consider the use of these solutions as tests for MHD codes. To that end, we used the Bifrost code, thereby testing the capabilities of these solutions as tests as well as (inversely) the accuracy of Bifrost’s recently developed ambipolar diffusion module.

Results. The obtained solutions are shown to constitute a demanding, but nonetheless viable, test for MHD codes that incorporate ambipolar diffusion. Detailed tabulated runs of the solutions have been made available at a public repository. The Bifrost code is able to reproduce the theoretical solutions with sufficient accuracy up to very advanced diffusive times. Using the code, we also explored the asymptotic properties of our theoretical solutions in time when initially perturbed with either small or finite perturbations.

Conclusions. The functions obtained in this paper are relevant as physical solutions and also as tests for general MHD codes. They provide a more stringent and general test than the simple Zeldovich-Kompaneets-Barenblatt-Pattle solution.