ZEUS: Astrophysical Hydrodynamics

ZEUS is a family of codes for astrophysical hydrodynamics calculations developed at the Laboratory for Computational Astrophysics (LCA) of NCSA.

The original ZEUS code is a 2D Eulerian hydrodynamics code developed by Mike Norman for simulations of rotating protostellar collapse. The code is based on a staggered-grid finite-difference scheme. Under Norman's supervision, many have contributed to the development of the ZEUS code from ZEUS-2D to ZEUS-3D and the latest ZEUS-MP. Many new algorithms were developed and incorporated into the ZEUS codes, including covariant formulation, tensor artificial viscosity, a MHD algorithm combining the Constrained Transport algorithm with a Method of Characteristics treatment for Alfven waves, and a variable tensor Eddington factor solution for the equations of radiation hydrodynamics. More information about ZEUS-2D, ZEUS-3D, and ZEUS-MP can be found at the LCA web site.

ZEUS codes have been successfully used in many different areas in physics and astrophysics. The project CactusZeus, as a part of the KDI Project, is to implement the ZEUS algorithms as thorns for Cactus as an application for non-relativistic hydrodynamics simulations. The name of the arrangement is still "Zeus". There are six thorns under this arrangement, including pure hydro and MHD computations for a varieties of boundary conditions. At this moment, CactusZeus works only on Cartesian unigrid and does not include radiation hydrodynamics.

CactusZeus is now able to work with several Cactus thorns and packages including data IO, visualization, and webserver. Currently, a new version of ZeusAMR is being developed using the PAGH AMR driver thorn and the AMR package GrACE.

Any one interested in using CactusZeus can download the package using anonymous cvs from the arrangements repository of the Cactus CVS server. A test suite is included in the package.

Comments, questions, and suggestions are welcome and should be directed to Pakshing Li (pakshing@ncsa.uiuc.edu).

Download Zeus

Using CVS Commands

cvs -d :pserver:cvs_anon@cvs.cactuscode.org:/arrangements login
CVS password: anon
cvs -d :pserver:cvs_anon@cvs.cactuscode.org:/arrangements checkout Zeus

Using a ThornList

Add the following to your thornlist:

!REPOSITORY_TYPE     pserver
!REPOSITORY_LOCATION cvs.cactuscode.org
!REPOSITORY_NAME     /arrangements
!REPOSITORY_USER     cvs_anon
Zeus/Zeus_Blast
Zeus/Zeus_Boundary
Zeus/Zeus_CT
Zeus/Zeus_SSJet
Zeus/Zeus_ShockTube
Zeus/Zeus_Source
Zeus/Zeus_Start
Zeus/Zeus_TimeStep
Zeus/Zeus_Transport

ZEUS Links

• LCA Web Site