diff --git a/sources/user_problem.F90 b/sources/user_problem.F90
index c13ac62..0398383 100644
--- a/sources/user_problem.F90
+++ b/sources/user_problem.F90
@@ -31,41 +31,42 @@ module user_problem
 
   implicit none
 
-  real(kind=8), save :: beta = 1.00d+00
-  real(kind=8), save :: zeta = 0.00d+00
-  real(kind=8), save :: eta  = 0.00d+00
-  real(kind=8), save :: dens = 1.00d+00
-  real(kind=8), save :: bamp = 1.00d+00
-  real(kind=8), save :: bgui = 0.00d+00
+  real(kind=8), save :: alpha = 5.00d-01
+  real(kind=8), save :: beta  = 1.00d+00
+  real(kind=8), save :: zeta  = 0.00d+00
+  real(kind=8), save :: eta   = 0.00d+00
+  real(kind=8), save :: dens  = 1.00d+00
+  real(kind=8), save :: bamp  = 1.00d+00
+  real(kind=8), save :: bgui  = 0.00d+00
 
-  real(kind=8), save :: pres = 5.00d-01
-  real(kind=8), save :: pmag = 5.00d-01
-  real(kind=8), save :: ptot = 1.00d+00
-  real(kind=8), save :: valf = 1.00d+00
-  real(kind=8), save :: lund = 1.00d+00
+  real(kind=8), save :: pres  = 5.00d-01
+  real(kind=8), save :: pmag  = 5.00d-01
+  real(kind=8), save :: ptot  = 1.00d+00
+  real(kind=8), save :: valf  = 1.00d+00
+  real(kind=8), save :: lund  = 1.00d+00
 
-  real(kind=8), save :: dlta = 1.00d-16
-  real(kind=8), save :: tdec = 1.00d+00
+  real(kind=8), save :: dlta  = 1.00d-16
+  real(kind=8), save :: tdec  = 1.00d+00
 
-  integer     , save :: pert = 0
-  integer     , save :: nper = 10
-  real(kind=8), save :: bper = 0.00d+00
-  real(kind=8), save :: vper = 0.00d+00
-  real(kind=8), save :: kper = 1.00d+00
-  real(kind=8), save :: kvec = 1.00d+00
-  real(kind=8), save :: xcut = 1.00d+99
-  real(kind=8), save :: ycut = 1.00d+99
-  real(kind=8), save :: xdec = 1.00d-01
-  real(kind=8), save :: ydec = 1.00d-01
+  integer     , save :: pert  = 0
+  integer     , save :: nper  = 10
+  real(kind=8), save :: bper  = 0.00d+00
+  real(kind=8), save :: vper  = 0.00d+00
+  real(kind=8), save :: kper  = 1.00d+00
+  real(kind=8), save :: kvec  = 1.00d+00
+  real(kind=8), save :: xcut  = 1.00d+99
+  real(kind=8), save :: ycut  = 1.00d+99
+  real(kind=8), save :: xdec  = 1.00d-01
+  real(kind=8), save :: ydec  = 1.00d-01
 
-  real(kind=8), save :: ylo  = -9.00d+99
-  real(kind=8), save :: yup  =  9.00d+99
+  real(kind=8), save :: ylo   = -9.00d+99
+  real(kind=8), save :: yup   =  9.00d+99
 
-  real(kind=8), save :: tabs = 1.00d+00
-  real(kind=8), save :: adif = 5.00d-01
-  real(kind=8), save :: acut = 1.00d+00
-  real(kind=8), save :: adec = 1.00d+00
-  real(kind=8), save :: yabs = 9.00d+99
+  real(kind=8), save :: tabs  = 1.00d+00
+  real(kind=8), save :: adif  = 5.00d-01
+  real(kind=8), save :: acut  = 1.00d+00
+  real(kind=8), save :: adec  = 1.00d+00
+  real(kind=8), save :: yabs  = 9.00d+99
 
   integer(kind=4), save :: runit = 33
 
@@ -191,6 +192,17 @@ module user_problem
       return
     end if
 
+! get the index for the current sheet thickness scaling
+!
+    call get_parameter("alpha", alpha)
+    if (alpha <= 0.0d+00) then
+      if (verbose) &
+        call print_message(loc, "Current sheet thickness scaling index " // &
+                                "(alpha) must be larger than zero! " // &
+                                "Resetting it to the default value of 1/2.")
+      alpha = 5.0d-01
+    end if
+
 ! calculate the maximum magnetic pressure, thermal pressure from the plasma-β
 ! parameters, and the sound speed in the case of isothermal equations of state
 !
@@ -201,7 +213,7 @@ module user_problem
     csnd  = sqrt(csnd2)
     valf  = sqrt(2.0d+00 * pmag / dens)
     lund  = valf / max(tiny(eta), eta)
-    dlta  = lund**(- 1.0d+00 / 3.0d+00)
+    dlta  = lund**(-alpha)
 
 ! fill up the boundary values
 !