A smoothed particle hydrodynamics and finite element method hybrid magnetohydrodynamic code SPMHD

Abstract We present a hybrid smoothed particle magnetohydrodynamics (SPMHD) code integrating smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) and finite element methods (FEM) to simulate coupled fluid-electromagnetic phenomena. The framework employs SPH for fluid dynamics, addressing large deformations, shocks, and plasma behavior, while FEM resolves electromagnetic fields via Maxwell’s equations for magnetic vector and electric scalar potentials, ensuring divergence-free conditions and global current density calculations in conductive region. Operator splitting method couples these modules, enabling real-time integration of magnetic, electric, thermal, and fluid fields. Benchmark tests validate the code against analytical solutions and existing models, including blow-by instability simulations that demonstrate the method’s accuracy in capturing fluid-magnetic interactions. Designed for 3D applications, SPMHD offers robust scalability across multiprocessor architectures, establishing it as a versatile tool for plasma physics research.