A low-dissipation HLLD approximate Riemann solver for a very wide range of Mach numbers

Abstract

We propose a new Harten-Lax-van Leer discontinuities (HLLD) approximate Riemann solver to improve the stability of shocks and the accuracy of low-speed flows in multidimensional magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulations. Stringent benchmark tests verify that the new solver is more robust against a numerical shock instability and is more accurate for low-speed, nearly incompressible flows than the original solver, whereas additional computational costs are quite low. The novel ability of the new solver enables us to tackle MHD systems, including both high and low Mach number flows.