A class of basis functions for non-ideal magnetohydrodynamic computations Original Research Article

A new spatial discretization method of the magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) stability problem is presented. This method ensures that the linearized discretized problem remains exactly variational in the limit of ideal MHD. It is shown with a 1D model equation that this new method eliminates a class of numerical modes existing with previous discretization methods. Improvements in the convergence properties are presented in ideal and resistive MHD.