A method for incorporating Gauss' law into electromagnetic PIC codes (Q1082786)

The author considers the problem of numerical integration of Maxwell's equations. He suggests that Ampère's law \(\partial D/\partial t=\nabla \times H-J\) should be replaced by \(\partial D/\partial t=\nabla \times H- J+d\nabla F\) where \(F\equiv \nabla.D-\rho,\) retaining Gauss' law \(F=0.\) This formulation, it is felt, will improve the present particle in cell (PIC) code methods, by limiting the build up of error in Gauss' law. It is noted that \(d\nabla^ 2F-\partial F/\partial t=\nabla.J+\partial \rho /\partial t\) and d, which governs the rate at which F diffuses is to be chosen so that the rate at which the code generates F is roughly the rate at which it dissipates. There is no detailed mathematical analysis, but an illustration of the method is given for the build up of field in the Stanford magnetron.