A grid-based Coulomb collision model for PIC codes (Q1908768)

A new method is presented to model the intermediate regime between collisionless and Coulomb collision dominated plasmas in particle-in-cell codes. Collisional processes between particles of different species are treated through the concept of a grid-based ``collision field'', which can be particularly efficient for multi-dimensional applications. In this method, particles are scattered using a force which is determined from the moments of the distribution functions accumulated on the grid. The form of the force is such to reproduce the multi-fluid transport equations through the second (energy) moment. Collisions between particles of the same species require a separate treatment. For this, a Monte Carlo-like scattering method based on the Langevin equation is used.