Courant number

A term used in the consideration of difference schemes for integrating one-dimensional hyperbolic systems. If $\tau$ is the grid spacing with respect to $t$, $h$ the grid spacing with respect to $x$ and $\lambda$ the maximum inclination of the characteristics, then the Courant number of the difference scheme equals $\lambda\tau/h$.

References

[1]	S.K. Godunov, V.S. Ryaben'kii, "The theory of difference schemes" , North-Holland (1964) (Translated from Russian)

Comments

The Courant number plays a role in the Courant–Friedrichs–Lewy condition. References are given there.