Error analysis of a divergence-preserving mixed finite element scheme for the incompressible Hall--magnetohydrodynamic equations
This work provides a provably stable and accurate numerical scheme for a challenging multi-physics problem, benefiting computational plasma physics.
The paper proposes a structure-preserving finite element method for the incompressible Hall-MHD system, achieving exact divergence-free magnetic fields and unconditional energy stability. Optimal convergence rates are proven and verified in 2.5D and 3D simulations.
The incompressible Hall-magnetohydrodynamics (Hall--MHD) system presents substantial analytical and computational challenges due to its stiff, highly nonlinear Hall term and the strict requirement that the magnetic field remains solenoidal. In this paper, we study a Voigt-regularised Hall--MHD system, which is of independent analytical interest and provides a physically consistent, well-posed regularisation of the original model. We propose, analyse, and implement a structure-preserving, linear, fully discrete finite element method for this regularised problem. Using finite element exterior calculus and a mixed formulation, the spatial discretisation enforces the divergence-free condition on the magnetic field exactly, while a skew-symmetric, linearly implicit time discretisation yields unconditional energy stability. We establish optimal convergence rates for the Voigt-regularised problem and, additionally, derive error estimates for the unregularised Hall--MHD system, with the Voigt regularisation playing a crucial role in the non-resistive regime. Finally, numerical simulations in both 2.5D and 3D corroborate the theoretical results and demonstrate the physical fidelity of the scheme.