Application of Galerkin spectral method for tearing mode instability

Magnetic reconnection and tearing mode instability play a critical role in many physical processes. The application of Galerkin spectral method for tearing mode instability in two-dimensional geometry is investigated in this paper. A resistive magnetohydrodynamic code is developed, by the Galerkin spectral method both in the periodic and aperiodic directions. Spectral schemes are provided for global modes and local modes. Mode structures, resistivity scaling, convergence and stability of tearing modes are discussed. The effectiveness of the code is demonstrated, and the computational results are compared with the results using Galerkin spectral method only in the periodic direction. The numerical results show that the code using Galerkin spectral method individually allows larger time step in global and local modes simulations, and has better convergence in global modes simulations.

Automated summary

This paper investigates the application of Galerkin spectral method for tearing mode instability in two-dimensional geometry. A resistive magnetohydrodynamic code is developed to discuss mode structures, resistivity scaling, convergence, and stability of tearing modes.