A {delta}{ital f} Monte Carlo method to calculate plasma currents

Journal Article · Wed Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1995 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.871412· OSTI ID:165013

Sasinowski, M ^[1]; Boozer, A H ^[2]

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1. Department of Physics, College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, Virginia 23185 (United States)
2. Department of Applied Physics, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027 (United States)

A Monte Carlo code has been developed which efficiently calculates plasma currents by finding the deviation, {ital {cflx f}}, of the exact distribution function, {ital f}, from the Maxwellian, {ital F}{sub {ital M}}({psi},{ital H}), with {psi} the toroidal magnetic flux enclosed by a pressure surface and {ital H} the Hamiltonian. The particles in the simulation are followed with a traditional Monte Carlo scheme consisting of an orbit step in which new values for the positions and momenta are obtained, and a collision step in which a Monte Carlo equivalent of the Lorentz operator is applied to change the pitch of each particle. The {delta}{ital f} code was used to study the aspect ratio and collisionality dependence of the bootstrap and two Fourier components of the Pfirsch--Schlueter current. The {delta}{ital f} code is about 10{sup 4} times as efficient as other Monte Carlo techniques used to calculate currents in plasmas. {copyright} {ital 1995} {ital American} {ital Institute} {ital of} {ital Physics}.

• OSTI ID: 165013
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas, Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 2; ISSN 1070-664X; ISSN PHPAEN
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
ASPECT RATIO
BOOTSTRAP CURRENT
COLLISION INTEGRALS
COMPUTER CODES
DISTRIBUTION FUNCTIONS
KINETIC EQUATIONS
MONTE CARLO METHOD
PFIRSCH-SCHLUETER REGIME
PLASMA SIMULATION