BOUT++: A framework for parallel plasma fluid simulations

B. D. Dudson, M. V. Umansky, X. Q. Xu, P. B. Snyder, H. R. Wilson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

373 Scopus citations

Abstract

A new modular code called BOUT++ is presented, which simulates 3D fluid equations in curvilinear coordinates. Although aimed at simulating Edge Localised Modes (ELMs) in tokamak x-point geometry, the code is able to simulate a wide range of fluid models (magnetised and unmagnetised) involving an arbitrary number of scalar and vector fields, in a wide range of geometries. Time evolution is fully implicit, and 3rd-order WENO schemes are implemented. Benchmarks are presented for linear and non-linear problems (the Orszag-Tang vortex) showing good agreement. Performance of the code is tested by scaling with problem size and processor number, showing efficient scaling to thousands of processors. Linear initial-value simulations of ELMs using reduced ideal MHD are presented, and the results compared to the ELITE linear MHD eigenvalue code. The resulting mode-structures and growth-rate are found to be in good agreement (γBOUT++ = 0.245 ωA, γELITE = 0.239 ωA, with Alfvénic timescale 1 / ωA = R / VA). To our knowledge, this is the first time dissipationless, initial-value simulations of ELMs have been successfully demonstrated.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1467-1480
Number of pages14
JournalComputer Physics Communications
Volume180
Issue number9
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 2009
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Curvilinear coordinates
  • ELM
  • Plasma simulation
  • Tokamak

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