Macroscale implicit electromagnetic particle simulation of magnetized plasmas (Q1106703)

An electromagnetic and multi-dimensional macroscale particle simulation code is presented which enables us a large time and spatial scale kinetic simulation of magnetized plasmas. Particle ions, finite mass electrons with the guiding-center approximation, and a complete set of Maxwell equations are employed. Implicit field-particle coupled equations are derived in which a time-decentered (slightly backward) finite differential scheme is used to achieve stability for large time and spatial scales. It is shown analytically that the present simulation scheme suppresses high frequency electromagnetic waves and that it accurately reproduces low frequency waves in the plasma. These properties are verified by numerical examination of eigenmodes in a 2D thermal equilibrium plasma and by that of the kinetic Alfvén wave.