Introducing phaedra: A new spectral code for simulations of relativistic magnetospheres

Abstract

We describe a new scheme for evolving the equations of force-free electrodynamics, the vanishing-inertia limit of magnetohydrodynamics. This pseudo-spectral code uses global orthogonal basis function expansions to take accurate spatial derivatives, allowing the use of an unstaggered mesh and the complete force-free current density. The method has low numerical dissipation and diffusion outside of singular current sheets. We present a range of one- and two-dimensional tests, and demonstrate convergence to both smooth and discontinuous analytic solutions. As a first application, we revisit the aligned rotator problem, obtaining a steady solution with resistivity localized in the equatorial current sheet outside the light cylinder. © 2012 The Authors Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society © 2012 RAS.