A new conservative unsplit method for the solution of the Vlasov equation (Q2489717)

A new conservative method for the Vlasov equation is developed without using any splitting technique. The goal is to maintain the positivity of the distribution function and to avoid nonphysical oscillations which may lead to numerical instabilities. Based on a finite volume conservative discretization of the conservative form of the Vlasov equation a highly accurate second-order upwind scheme is implemented. In order to avoid the nonphysical oscillations and their possible numerical instability a flux-limiter is applied in the second-order. This new Vlasov solver is validated considering standard cases of one-dimensional current-driven ion-acoustic instabilities solving a Vlasov-Ampère set of equations.