This package contains cython code implementing a geometric variational integrator for the dynamics of point vortices of the sphere. The discrete equations of motion live on the three-dimensional sphere/the Lie group SU(2), which allows for techniques from discrete Lagrangian mechanics to be used. More information can be found in the following article:

Joris Vankerschaver, Melvin Leok: A novel formulation of point vortex dynamics on the sphere: geometrical and numerical aspects. Journal of Nonlinear Science (2014), Volume 24, Issue 1, pp 1-37 arXiv preprint

First, compile the included Cython files by running

cd hopf && make

This has to be done only once.

In order to use this package, your PYTHONPATH has to point to the hopf directory. From within the root directory (hopf_vortices) of this package, run

source set_python_path.sh