Why is Boris Algorithm So Good?
Authors: Hong Qin et. al.
Abstract:
Due to its excellent long term accuracy, the Boris algorithm is the de facto standard for advancing
a charged particle. Despite its popularity, up to now there has been no convincing explanation
why the Boris algorithm has this advantageous feature. In this letter, we provide an answer to
this question. We show that the Boris algorithm conserves phase space volume, even though it is
not symplectic. The global bound on energy error typically associated with symplectic algorithms
still holds for the Boris algorithm, making it an effective algorithm for the multi-scale dynamics of
plasmas.
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Submitted to: Physical Review Letters (April 2013)
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Download PPPL-4872 (pdf 1.74 MB 10pp)
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