A Variational Multi-Symplectic PIC Algorithm with Smoothing Functions for the Vlasov-Maxwell System
Authors: J. Xiao, J. Liu, H. Qin and Z. Yu
Abstract:
Smoothing functions are commonly used to reduce numerical noises arising from coarse sampling
of particles in particle-in-cell (PIC) plasma simulations. When applying smoothing functions
to symplectic algorithms, the conservation of symplectic structure should be guaranteed to
preserve good conservation properties. In this paper, we show how to construct a variational
multi-symplectic PIC algorithm with smoothing functions for the Vlasov-Maxwell system. The
conservation of the multi-symplectic structure and the reduction of numerical noises make this
algorithm specifically suitable for simulating long-term dynamics of plasmas, such as those in the
steady-state operation or long-pulse discharge of a super-conducting tokamak. The algorithm has
been implemented in a 6D large scale PIC code. Numerical examples are given to demonstrate the
good conservation properties of the multi-symplectic algorithm and the reduction of the noise due
to the application of smoothing function.
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Submitted to: Physics of Plasmas (June 2013)
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Download PPPL-4882 (pdf 266 KB 19 pp)
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