Cosmological simulations are essential to research in theoretical astrophysics. One thing in particular that needs to be studied using these is the recent observation of magnetic fields in voids....Show moreCosmological simulations are essential to research in theoretical astrophysics. One thing in particular that needs to be studied using these is the recent observation of magnetic fields in voids. This project then tests the SWIFT simulation code, and specifically its implementation of MHD, to aid with this. The simulation results are compared to the analytic solutions of the Zel’dovich pancake model, for both a 1D and 3D collapse. We add magnetic fields to this model, and derive and simulate their evolution for a number of configurations: in 1D, a parallel and perpendicular field (relative to the collapse axis), with and without resistivity; in 3D a field without resistivity. It is found that the magnetic field is simulated well, as it corresponds exactly to our solutions when we expect it to, and still looks reasonable when our solutions break down. Especially for a 3D collapse, the pancake model is not exact anymore, but the simulated field still seems to follow our general solutions. One caveat to this is that it requires a specific configuration of the code due to problems with artificial resistivity, so these still need to be fixed.Show less
Through recent decades, Iran has consistently been faced with economic sanctions by the United States. Due to the hegemony the United States has over international monetary systems, sanctions can...Show moreThrough recent decades, Iran has consistently been faced with economic sanctions by the United States. Due to the hegemony the United States has over international monetary systems, sanctions can be detrimental. This was displayed in 2012 when Iran was sanctioned by The Society for Worldwide Interbank Telecommunication (SWIFT), an interbank messaging platform which can be influenced by the United States. SWIFT is responsible for facilitating $5 trillion USD in settlements daily. As a result, the Iranian economy suffered greatly as they could not facilitate their oil sales with international partners without SWIFT. This thesis seeks to find alternative payment and messaging platforms which may compete with SWIFT and assist in sanctioned countries to avoid the current hegemonic nature of payment and messaging platforms. In finding alternatives, two stand at the forefront of this economic discourse for sanctioned states. One being the Cross-Border Interbank Payment System which was established as a result of the internationalization of the RMB. And the rise of RippleNet, a blockchain based messaging and payment platform which has emerged due to the technological advances in the finance industry. In doing so, the paper analyzes shifts in global finance and its subsequent impact on sanctioned countries.Show less
