Multi-scale particle simulation of bounded plasmas
- California Univ., Berkeley, CA (USA). Electronics Research Lab.
- Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (USA)
We are using the multi-scale technique to model bounded systems. Certain bounded systems are a naturally suited for the multi-scale method because of the boundary layer that forms at the wall, which is usually a short spatial and time scale structure, can significantly affect the bulk plasma behavior. One goal is to understand the interaction between the bulk plasma and the sheath. If the relevant short time scale physics is local to a few known spatial regions, then one can take advantage of this by advancing particles with variable {Delta}t depending on position, hence reducing computing time. The unmagnetized sheath problem is such a case. The model is a one dimensional bounded slab with kinetic ions and electrons. We start with a collisionless and unmagnetized system for simplicity. The right boundary is a conducting wall that absorbs all particles that come in contact with it. The left boundary is a symmetry point, where the particles are reflected. We allow a specified initial distribution: f(x,v,t = 0). In order to test the numerics of both multi-scale method and boundary conditions we are using the following test problem: a cutoff Maxwellian distribution for the electrons and fixed ions. The system has an analytic solution, so the run may be started from equilibrium. This gives us a benchmark and tests the fast time scale electron sheath dynamics. Results using variable {Delta}t will be given. In the future, we intend to use the more general model to study time dependent bounded plasma problems, such as a plasma expanding toward a conducting wall.
- Research Organization:
- California Univ., Berkeley, CA (USA). Electronics Research Lab.; Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (USA)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOD; USDOE; Department of Defense, Washington, DC (USA); USDOE, Washington, DC (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- FG03-90ER54079; FG03-86ER53220; W-7405-ENG-48
- OSTI ID:
- 6094868
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-890931-11; ON: DE91009834; CNN: N00014-85-K-0809; TRN: 91-008637
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 13. conference on the numerical simulation of plasmas, Santa Fe, NM (USA), 17-20 Sep 1989
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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