International audienceWe present a new numerical code, PLUTO, for the solution of hypersonic flows in 1, 2, and 3 spatial dimensions and different systems of coordinates. The code provides a multiphysics, multialgorithm modular environment particularly oriented toward the treatment of astrophysical flows in presence of discontinuities. Different hydrodynamic modules and algorithms may be independently selected to properly describe Newtonian, relativistic, MHD, or relativistic MHD fluids. The modular structure exploits a general framework for integrating a system of conservation laws, built on modern Godunov-type shock-capturing schemes. Although a plethora of numerical methods has been successfully developed over the past two decades, the vast majority shares a common discretization recipe, involving three general steps: a piecewise polynomial reconstruction followed by the solution of Riemann problems at zone interfaces and a final evolution stage. We have checked and validated the code against several benchmarks available in literature. Test problems in 1, 2, and 3 dimensions are discussed

We present a description of the adaptive mesh refinement (AMR) implementation of the PLUTO code for solving the equations of classical and special relativistic magnetohydrodynamics (MHD and RMHD). The current release exploits, in addition to the static grid version of the code, the distributed infrastructure of the CHOMBO library for multidimensional parallel computations over block-structured, adaptively refined grids. We employ a conservative finite-volume approach where primary flow quantities are discretized at the cell-center in a dimensionally unsplit fashion using the Corner Transport Upwind (CTU) method. Time stepping relies on a characteristic tracing step where piecewise parabolic method (PPM), weighted essentially non-oscillatory (WENO) or slope-limited linear interpolation schemes can be handily adopted. A characteristic decomposition-free version of the scheme is also illustrated. The solenoidal condition of the magnetic field is enforced by augmenting the equations with a generalized Lagrange multiplier (GLM) providing propagation and damping of divergence errors through a mixed hyperbolic/parabolic explicit cleaning step. Among the novel features, we describe an extension of the scheme to include non-ideal dissipative processes such as viscosity, resistivity and anisotropic thermal conduction without operator splitting. Finally, we illustrate an efficient treatment of point-local, potentially stiff source terms over hierarchical nested grids by taking advantage of the adaptivity in time. Several multidimensional benchmarks and applications to problems of astrophysical relevance assess the potentiality of the AMR version of PLUTO in resolving flow features separated by large spatial and temporal disparities.

Context. Accretion disks and astrophysical jets are used to model many active astrophysical objects, such as young stars, relativistic stars, and active galactic nuclei. However, existing proposals for how these structures may transfer angular momentum and energy from disks to jets through viscous or magnetic torques do not yet provide a full understanding of the physical mechanisms involved. Thus, global stationary solutions have not explained the stability of these structures; and global numerical simulations that include both the disk and jet physics have so far been limited to relatively short time scales and narrow (and possibly astrophysically unlikely) ranges of viscosity and resistivity parameters that may be crucial to defining the coupling of the inflow-outflow dynamics. Aims. We present self-consistent, time-dependent simulations of supersonic jets launched from magnetized accretion disks, using high-resolution numerical techniques. In particular we study the effects of the disk's magnetic resistivity, parametrized through an α-prescription, in determining the properties of the inflow-outflow system. Moreover we analyze under which conditions steady state solutions of the type proposed in the self-similar models of Blandford & Payne can be reached and maintained in a self-consistent nonlinear stage. Methods. We used the resistive MHD FLASH code with adaptive mesh refinement (AMR), allowing us to follow the evolution of the structure on a long enough time scale to reach steady state. A detailed analysis of the initial configuration state is given. Results. We obtain the expected solutions within the axisymmetric (2.5 D) limit. Assuming a magnetic field around equipartition with the thermal pressure of the disk, we show how the characteristics of the disk-jet system, such as the ejection efficiency and the energetics, are affected by the anomalous resistivity acting inside the disk.

Aims. This paper examines the outflows associated with the interaction of a stellar magnetosphere with an accretion disk. In particular, we investigate the magnetospheric ejections (MEs) due to the expansion and reconnection of the field lines connecting the star with the disk. Our aim is to study the dynamical properties of the outflows and evaluate their impact on the angular momentum evolution of young protostars. Methods. Our models are based on axisymmetric time-dependent magnetohydrodynamic simulations of the interaction of the dipolar magnetosphere of a rotating protostar with a viscous and resistive disk, using alpha prescriptions for the transport coefficients. Our simulations are designed to model the accretion process and the formation of accretion funnels, the periodic inflation/reconnection of the magnetosphere and the associated MEs, and the stellar wind.Results. Similar to a magnetic slingshot, MEs can be powered by the rotation of both the disk and the star so that they can efficiently remove angular momentum from both. Depending on the accretion rate, MEs can extract a relevant fraction of the accretion torque and, together with a weak but non-negligible stellar wind torque, can balance the spin-up due to accretion. When the disk truncation approaches the corotation radius, the system enters a "propeller" regime, where the torques exerted by the disk and the MEs can even balance the spin-up due to the stellar contraction. Conclusions. Magnetospheric ejections can play an important role in the stellar spin evolution. Their spin-down efficiency can be compared to other scenarios, such as the Ghosh & Lamb, X-wind, or stellar wind models. Nevertheless, for all scenarios, an efficient spin-down torque requires a rather strong dipolar component, which has seldom been observed in classical T Tauri stars. A better analysis of the torques acting on the protostar must consider non-axisymmetric and multipolar magnetic components consistent with observations.

Aims. We re-examine the conditions required to steadily deviate an accretion flow from a circumstellar disc into a magnetospheric funnel flow onto a slow rotating young forming star. Methods. New analytical constraints on the formation of accretion funnels flows due to the presence of a dipolar stellar magnetic field disrupting the disc are derived. The Versatile Advection Code is used to confirm these constraints numerically. Axisymmetric MHD simulations are performed, where a stellar dipole field enters the resistive accretion disc, whose structure is self-consistently computed.Results. The analytical criterion derived allows to predict a priori the position of the truncation radius from a non perturbative accretion disc model. Accretion funnels are found to be robust features which occur below the co-rotation radius, where the stellar poloidal magnetic pressure becomes both at equipartition with the disc thermal pressure and is comparable to the disc poloidal ram pressure. We confirm the results of Romanova et al. (2002, ApJ, 578, 420) and find accretion funnels for stellar dipole fields as low as 140 G in the low accretion rate limit of 10 −9 M yr −1 . With our present numerical setup with no disc magnetic field, we found no evidence of winds, neither disc driven nor X-winds, and the star is only spun up by its interaction with the disc. Conclusions. Weak dipole fields, similar in magnitude to those observed, lead to the development of accretion funnel flows in weakly accreting T Tauri stars. However, the higher accretion observed for most T Tauri stars (Ṁ ∼ 10 −8 M yr −1 ) requires either larger stellar field strength and/or different magnetic topologies to allow for magnetospheric accretion.