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Abstract We present a discontinuous Galerkin (DG)–finite difference (FD) hybrid scheme that allows high-order shock capturing with the DG method for general relativistic magnetohydrodynamics. The hybrid method is conceptually quite simple. An unlimited DG candidate solution is computed for the next time step. If the candidate solution is inadmissible, the time step is retaken using robust FD methods. Because of its a posteriori nature, the hybrid scheme inherits the best properties of both methods. It is high-order with exponential convergence in smooth regions, while robustly handling discontinuities. We give a detailed description of how we transfer the solution between the DG and FD solvers, and the troubled-cell indicators necessary to robustly handle slow-moving discontinuities and simulate magnetized neutron stars. We demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed method using a suite of standard and very challenging 1D, 2D, and 3D relativistic magnetohydrodynamics test problems. The hybrid scheme is designed from the ground up to efficiently simulate astrophysical problems such as the inspiral, coalescence, and merger of two neutron stars. 

Brownian coating thermal noise in detector test masses is limiting the sensitivity of current gravitational-wave detectors on Earth. Therefore, accurate numerical models can inform the ongoing effort to minimize Brownian coating thermal noise in current and future gravitational-wave detectors. Such numerical models typically require significant computational resources and time, and often involve closed-source commercial codes. In contrast, open-source codes give complete visibility and control of the simulated physics, enable direct assessment of the numerical accuracy, and support the reproducibility of results. In this article, we use the open-sourceSpECTREnumerical relativity code and adopt a novel discontinuous Galerkin numerical method to model Brownian coating thermal noise. We demonstrate thatSpECTREachieves significantly higher accuracy than a previous approach at a fraction of the computational cost. Furthermore, we numerically model Brownian coating thermal noise in multiple sub-wavelength crystalline coating layers for the first time. Our new numerical method has the potential to enable fast exploration of realistic mirror configurations, and hence to guide the search for optimal mirror geometries, beam shapes and coating materials for gravitational-wave detectors.