Application of Euler Equations to Model Astrophysical Flows

Abstract: The Euler equations are a key component of multi-physics models of many astrophysical systems, including core-collapse supernovae and binary neutron star mergers.  While the Euler equations alone do not provide a realistic description of these systems, they can sometimes be used to study some of their aspects that are intractable with full-physics models.  The study of the so-called standing accretion shock instability (SASI), which operates in a stalled supernova shock wave, and was discovered using idealized models based on the Euler equations, is a prime example.  In this talk, I will first briefly discuss the Euler equations and a discontinuous Galerkin method to solve them numerically.  Then I will discuss the application of the Euler equations to model the SASI.  I will conclude by showing results from a recent study (Dunham et al., arXiv:2307.10904) comparing simulations using relativistic and non-relativistic implementations of the Euler equations.  

Speaker’s Bio: Eirik Endeve is a staff researcher with the Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s Multiscale Methods and Dynamics Group.  He received his Ph.D. from the Institute of Theoretical Astrophysics at the University of Oslo.  His current research interests include methods for solving kinetic equations, structure-preserving discretizations of hyperbolic partial differential equations, and the development of methods for multiscale problems in nuclear astrophysics.