A numerical exploration of first-order relativistic hydrodynamics

Understand

We present the first numerical solutions of the causal, stable relativistic Navier-Stokes equations as formulated by Bemfica, Disconzi, Noronha, and Kovtun (BDNK).

• For this initial investigation we restrict to plane-symmetric configurations of a conformal fluid in Minkowski spacetime.
• We consider evolution of three classes of initial data: a smooth (initially) stationary concentration of energy, a standard shock tube setup, and a smooth shockwave setup.
• We compare these solutions to those obtained with the Muller-Israel-Stewart (MIS) formalism, variants of which are the common tools used to model relativistic, viscous fluids.