Variations in Finite-difference Potential Fields

Abstract The potential field (PF) solution of the solar corona is a vital modeling tool for wide range applications, including minimum energy estimates, coronal magnetic modeling, and empirical wind solutions. Given its popularity, it important to understand how choices made in computing PF may influence key properties solution. Here we study solutions global on 2012 June 13, computed with our high-performance finite-difference code POT3D. Solutions are analyzed their locally around NOAA AR 11504, using net open flux, open-field boundaries, total energy, structure as metrics. We explore depend (1) data source, type, processing inner boundary conditions; (2) choice outer condition height type; (3) numerical resolution spatial scale information at lower boundary. discuss various qualitative quantitative differences that naturally arise by different maps input, illustrate morphology flux most strongly condition. also show large-scale morphologies remarkably insensitive model resolution, while surface mapping embedded complexity vary considerably. This establishes context past, current, future applications modeling.