Variational formulation of macroparticle models for electromagnetic plasma simulations

Stamm, Alexander B.; Shadwick, Bradley A.; Evstatiev, Evstati G.

doi:10.1109/TPS.2014.2320461

Title: Variational formulation of macroparticle models for electromagnetic plasma simulations

Abstract

A variational method is used to derive a self-consistent macroparticle model for relativistic electromagnetic kinetic plasma simulations. Extending earlier work, discretization of the electromagnetic Low Lagrangian is performed via a reduction of the phase-space distribution function onto a collection of finite-sized macroparticles of arbitrary shape and discretization of field quantities onto a spatial grid. This approach may be used with lab frame coordinates or moving window coordinates; the latter can greatly improve computational efficiency for studying some types of laser-plasma interactions. The primary advantage of the variational approach is the preservation of Lagrangian symmetries, which in our case leads to energy conservation and thus avoids difficulties with grid heating. In addition, this approach decouples particle size from grid spacing and relaxes restrictions on particle shape, leading to low numerical noise. The variational approach also guarantees consistent approximations in the equations of motion and is amenable to higher order methods in both space and time. We restrict our attention to the 1.5-D case (one coordinate and two momenta). Lastly, simulations are performed with the new models and demonstrate energy conservation and low noise.

Authors:

Stamm, Alexander B. ^[1]; Shadwick, Bradley A. ^[1]; Evstatiev, Evstati G. ^[2]

Univ. of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE (United States)
FAR-TECH, Inc., San Diego, CA (United States)

Publication Date:: Sun Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 2014

Research Org.:: Univ. of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:: USDOE Office of Science (SC), Fusion Energy Sciences (FES)

OSTI Identifier:: 1334791

Grant/Contract Number:: SC0008382; FG02-08ER55000; P200A090156

Resource Type:: Accepted Manuscript

Journal Name:: IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science

Additional Journal Information:: Journal Volume: 42; Journal Issue: 6; Journal ID: ISSN 0093-3813

Publisher:: IEEE

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

Subject:: 70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY; variational; electromagnetic; energy conserving; kinetic; particle in cell (PIC); plasma; equations; mathematical model; shape; energy conservation; lasers; propagation; approximation methods

Citation Formats


                    Stamm, Alexander B., Shadwick, Bradley A., and Evstatiev, Evstati G. Variational formulation of macroparticle models for electromagnetic plasma simulations.  United States: N. p., 2014. 
Web.  doi:10.1109/TPS.2014.2320461.

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                    Stamm, Alexander B., Shadwick, Bradley A., & Evstatiev, Evstati G. Variational formulation of macroparticle models for electromagnetic plasma simulations.  United States.  https://doi.org/10.1109/TPS.2014.2320461

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                    Stamm, Alexander B., Shadwick, Bradley A., and Evstatiev, Evstati G. Sun .  
"Variational formulation of macroparticle models for electromagnetic plasma simulations".  United States.  https://doi.org/10.1109/TPS.2014.2320461.  https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1334791.

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@article{osti_1334791,

  title        = {Variational formulation of macroparticle models for electromagnetic plasma simulations},

  author       = {Stamm, Alexander B. and Shadwick, Bradley A. and Evstatiev, Evstati G.},

  abstractNote = {A variational method is used to derive a self-consistent macroparticle model for relativistic electromagnetic kinetic plasma simulations. Extending earlier work, discretization of the electromagnetic Low Lagrangian is performed via a reduction of the phase-space distribution function onto a collection of finite-sized macroparticles of arbitrary shape and discretization of field quantities onto a spatial grid. This approach may be used with lab frame coordinates or moving window coordinates; the latter can greatly improve computational efficiency for studying some types of laser-plasma interactions. The primary advantage of the variational approach is the preservation of Lagrangian symmetries, which in our case leads to energy conservation and thus avoids difficulties with grid heating. In addition, this approach decouples particle size from grid spacing and relaxes restrictions on particle shape, leading to low numerical noise. The variational approach also guarantees consistent approximations in the equations of motion and is amenable to higher order methods in both space and time. We restrict our attention to the 1.5-D case (one coordinate and two momenta). Lastly, simulations are performed with the new models and demonstrate energy conservation and low noise.},

  doi          = {10.1109/TPS.2014.2320461},

  journal      = {IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science},

  number       = 6,

  volume       = 42,

  place        = {United States},

  year         = {Sun Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 2014},

  month        = {Sun Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 2014}

}

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Works referencing / citing this record:

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Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 24, Issue 10
DOI: 10.1063/1.4998610

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