MGrudic_Mach9_compressed


This shows the density field in driven compressible isothermal magnetized turbulence (with infinite conductivity, the ‘ideal MHD’ limit common in astrophysics), using our code GIZMO, and a purely-solenoidal driving scheme (so the driving is incompressible, but compressive motions and shocks arise anyways owing to disorganized motions). This is dominated by networks of shocks that produce orders-of-magnitude density fluctuations, but the structure can be different in many ways from the previous case. While common in astrophysics, this is completely unlike classical turbulence on earth and in most math or engineering applications, which is what makes it great to study. Movie made by Mike Grudic.

© Philip Hopkins 2015