Cross-code verification and sensitivity analysis to effectively model the electrothermal instability

This manuscript presents verification cases that are developed to study the electrothermal instability (ETI). Specific included ensure unit physics components necessary model ETI accurate, providing a path for fluid-based codes effectively simulate in linear and nonlinear growth regimes. Two software frameworks with different algorithmic approaches compared accuracy their ability diffusion of magnetic field, ETI, fully evolution. The simulations show early time agreement, some differences emerging, as noted wavenumber spectrum, late into development ETI. A sensitivity explores role equation-of-state (EOS), vacuum density, resistivity. EOS resistivity found be most critical factors modeling development.