High-Performance computational magnetohydrodynamics with Python

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Authors: Christopher Bard, J. Dorelli
Cited by: 0
References: 51

Abstract

We present the AGATE simulation code, a Python-based framework developed primarily for solving the magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) equations while maintaining adaptability to other equation sets. The code employs a modular, object-oriented architecture that separates interface specifications from numerical implementations, allowing users to customize numerical methods and physics models. Built on a Godunov-type finite-volume scheme, AGATE currently supports the ideal, Hall, and Chew-Goldberger-Low (CGL) MHD equations, with multiple acceleration options ranging from Numpy to GPU-enabled computation via NVIDIA CUDA. Performance testing demonstrates that our GPU implementations achieve > 40x speedups over CPU versions. Comprehensive verification through established benchmarks confirms accurate reproduction of both linear and nonlinear phenomena across different MHD regimes. This combination of modularity, performance, and extensibility makes AGATE suitable for multiple applications: from rapid prototyping to production simulations, and from numerical algorithm development to physics education.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Computational Fluid Dynamics and Aerodynamics Parallel Computing and Optimization Techniques Computational Physics and Python Applications

Publication details

Journal / source
Computer Physics Communications
Volume
322
Pages
110077–110077
Publication date
11 February 2026
Language
EN