Relativistic extension of a charge-conservative finite element solver for time-dependent Maxwell-Vlasov equations
- 1 January 2018
- journal article
- research article
- Published by AIP Publishing in Physics of Plasmas
- Vol. 25 (1)
- https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5004557
Abstract
Accurate modeling of relativistic particle motion is essential for physical predictions in many problems involving vacuum electronic devices, particle accelerators, and relativistic plasmas. A local, explicit, and charge-conserving finite-element time-domain (FETD) particle-in-cell (PIC) algorithm for time-dependent (non-relativistic) Maxwell-Vlasov equations on irregular (unstructured) meshes was recently developed by Moon et al. [Comput. Phys. Commun. 194, 43 (2015); IEEE Trans. Plasma Sci. 44, 1353 (2016)]. Here, we extend this FETD-PIC algorithm to the relativistic regime by implementing and comparing three relativistic particle-pushers: (relativistic) Boris, Vay, and Higuera-Cary. We illustrate the application of the proposed relativistic FETD-PIC algorithm for the analysis of particle cyclotron motion at relativistic speeds, harmonic particle oscillation in the Lorentz-boosted frame, and relativistic Bernstein modes in magnetized charge-neutral (pair) plasmas.Keywords
Funding Information
- Ohio Supercomputer Center (PAS-0061)
- Ohio Supercomputer Center (PAS-0110)
- National Science Foundation (1305838)
- Ohio State University
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