STARBENCH: the D-type expansion of an H II region
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Author
Bisbas, T.~G.
Haworth, T.~J.
Williams, R.~J.~R.
Mackey, J.
Tremblin, P.
Raga, A.~C.
Arthur, S.~J.
Baczynski, C.
Frostholm, T.
Geen, S.
Haugbølle, T.
Hubber, D.
Iliev, I.~T.
Kuiper, R.
Rosdahl, J.
Sullivan, D.
Walch, S.
Wünsch, R.
Dale, James
Attention
2299/18859
Abstract
STARBENCH is a project focused on benchmarking and validating different star formation and stellar feedback codes. In this first STARBENCH paper we perform a comparison study of the D-type expansion of an H II region. The aim of this work is to understand the differences observed between the 12 participating numerical codes against the various analytical expressions examining the D-type phase of H II region expansion. To do this, we propose two well-defined tests which are tackled by 1D and 3D grid- and smoothed particle hydrodynamics-based codes. The first test examines the ‘early phase’ D-type scenario during which the mechanical pressure driving the expansion is significantly larger than the thermal pressure of the neutral medium. The second test examines the ‘late phase’ D-type scenario during which the system relaxes to pressure equilibrium with the external medium. Although they are mutually in excellent agreement, all 12 participating codes follow a modified expansion law that deviates significantly from the classical Spitzer solution in both scenarios. We present a semi-empirical formula combining the two different solutions appropriate to both early and late phases that agrees with high-resolution simulations to ≲ 2 per cent. This formula provides a much better benchmark solution for code validation than the Spitzer solution. The present comparison has validated the participating codes and through this project we provide a data set for calibrating the treatment of ionizing radiation hydrodynamics codes.