Finite grid instability and spectral fidelity of the electrostatic Particle-In-Cell algorithm

Huang, C. -K.; Zeng, Y.; Wang, Y.; Meyers, M. D.; Yi, S.; Albright, B. J.

doi:10.1016/j.cpc.2016.05.021

Title: Finite grid instability and spectral fidelity of the electrostatic Particle-In-Cell algorithm

Journal Article · Sat Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 2016 · Computer Physics Communications

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpc.2016.05.021· OSTI ID:1258644

^[1]; Zeng, Y. ^[1]; Wang, Y. ^[1]; Meyers, M. D. ^[2]; Yi, S. ^[1]; Albright, B. J. ^[1]

Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States); Univ. of California, Los Angeles, CA (United States)

The origin of the Finite Grid Instability (FGI) is studied by resolving the dynamics in the 1D electrostatic Particle-In-Cell (PIC) model in the spectral domain at the single particle level and at the collective motion level. The spectral fidelity of the PIC model is contrasted with the underlying physical system or the gridless model. The systematic spectral phase and amplitude errors from the charge deposition and field interpolation are quantified for common particle shapes used in the PIC models. Lastly, it is shown through such analysis and in simulations that the lack of spectral fidelity relative to the physical system due to the existence of aliased spatial modes is the major cause of the FGI in the PIC model.

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Research Organization:: Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE

Grant/Contract Number:: AC52-06NA25396

OSTI ID:: 1258644

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1396461

Report Number(s):: LA-UR-15-26028

Journal Information:: Computer Physics Communications, Journal Name: Computer Physics Communications; ISSN 0010-4655

Publisher:: ElsevierCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Cited by: 11 works

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References (20)

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