Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics

Abstract: I present a review of Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH), with the aim of providing a mathematically rigorous, clear derivation of the algorithms from first principles. The method of discretising a continuous field into particles using a smoothing kernel is considered, and also the errors associated with this approach. A fully conservative form of SPH is then derived from the Lagrangian, demonstrating the explicit conservation of mass, linear and angular momenta and energy/entropy. The method is then extended to self-consistently include spatially varying smoothing lengths, (self) gravity and various forms of artificial viscosity, required for the correct treatment of shocks. Finally two common methods of time integration are discussed, the Runge-Kutta-Fehlberg and leapfrog integrators, along with an overview of time-stepping criteria.