Comment on “Symplectic integration of magnetic systems”: A proof that the Boris algorithm is not variational
- Princeton Plasma Physics Lab. (PPPL), Princeton, NJ (United States)
- Princeton Plasma Physics Lab. (PPPL), Princeton, NJ (United States); Univ Sci & Technol China, Dept Modern Phys, Hefei 230026, Anhui, Peoples R China.
One popular technique for the numerical time advance of charged particles interacting with electric and magnetic fields according to the Lorentz force law [1], [2], [3] and [4] is the Boris algorithm. Its popularity stems from simple implementation, rapid iteration, and excellent long-term numerical fidelity [1] and [5]. Excellent long-term behavior strongly suggests the numerical dynamics exhibit conservation laws analogous to those governing the continuous Lorentz force system [6]. Moreover, without conserved quantities to constrain the numerical dynamics, algorithms typically dissipate or accumulate important observables such as energy and momentum over long periods of simulated time [6]. Identification of the conservative properties of an algorithm is important for establishing rigorous expectations on the long-term behavior; energy-preserving, symplectic, and volume-preserving methods each have particular implications for the qualitative numerical behavior [6], [7], [8], [9], [10] and [11].
- Research Organization:
- Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL), Princeton, NJ (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- Grant/Contract Number:
- AC02-09CH11466
- OSTI ID:
- 1256706
- Alternate ID(s):
- OSTI ID: 1247040
- Report Number(s):
- PPPL-5109; PII: S0021999115005884
- Journal Information:
- Journal of Computational Physics, Vol. 301, Issue C; ISSN 0021-9991
- Publisher:
- ElsevierCopyright Statement
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Web of Science
Similar Records
Why is Boris algorithm so good?
Variational symplectic algorithm for guiding center dynamics and its application in tokamak geometry