A time-implicit numerical method and benchmarks for the relativistic Vlasov–Ampere equations

Journal Article · Fri Jan 15 04:00:00 EST 2016 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4938035· OSTI ID:22493802

Carrié, Michael

We present a time-implicit numerical method to solve the relativistic Vlasov–Ampere system of equations on a two dimensional phase space grid. The time-splitting algorithm we use allows the generalization of the work presented here to higher dimensions keeping the linear aspect of the resulting discrete set of equations. The implicit method is benchmarked against linear theory results for the relativistic Landau damping for which analytical expressions using the Maxwell-Jüttner distribution function are derived. We note that, independently from the shape of the distribution function, the relativistic treatment features collective behaviours that do not exist in the nonrelativistic case. The numerical study of the relativistic two-stream instability completes the set of benchmarking tests.

• OSTI ID: 22493802
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas, Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 23; ISSN PHPAEN; ISSN 1070-664X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
ALGORITHMS
BENCHMARKS
DISTRIBUTION FUNCTIONS
GRIDS
LANDAU DAMPING
NUMERICAL ANALYSIS
PHASE SPACE
RELATIVISTIC RANGE
TWO-DIMENSIONAL SYSTEMS
TWO-STREAM INSTABILITY