Integration of the Vlasov equation in configuration space. [Boundary conditions, one-, two-, and three-dimensional calculations]

Journal Article · Mon Nov 01 00:00:00 EST 1976 · J. Comput. Phys.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0021-9991(76)90053-X· OSTI ID:5367170

Cheng, C Z; Knorr, G

A convenient, fast, and accurate method of solving the one-dimensional Vlasov equation numerically in configuration space is described. It treats the convective terms in the x and v directions separately and produces a scheme of second order in ..delta..t. The resulting freestreaming and accelerating equations are computed with Fourier interpolation and spline interpolation methods respectively. The numerical method is tested with linear and nonlinear problems. The method is very accurate and efficient. A new method of smoothing the distribution function is given. It reduces the computational effort by artificially increasing the entropy of the system. As a result, the distribution function is smooth enough to be well represented on a given mesh. The methods can be generalized in a straightforward way to deal with more complicated cases such as problems with nonperiodic spatial boundary conditions, two- and three-dimensional problems with and without external magnetic and/or electric fields.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Iowa, Iowa City
• OSTI ID: 5367170
• Journal Information: J. Comput. Phys.; (United States), Vol. 22:3
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
BOLTZMANN-VLASOV EQUATION
INTEGRALS
BOUNDARY CONDITIONS
DISTRIBUTION FUNCTIONS
NONLINEAR PROBLEMS
ONE-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
THREE-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
TWO-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
EQUATIONS
658000* - Mathematical Physics- (-1987)