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A grid-based binary model for coulomb collisions in plasmas
- Source :
-
Journal of Computational Physics . Feb2013, Vol. 234, p33-43. 11p. - Publication Year :
- 2013
-
Abstract
- Abstract: Both binary and grid-based Langevin equations models for Coulomb collisions are used in particle simulation of plasmas. We introduce a variant of the conventional binary collision algorithm for performing Coulomb collisions. In this algorithm particles in a configuration space cell are not paired for collisions. Instead, for every test particle in the cell, a unique field particle is defined by randomly sampling a velocity distribution defined on the grid by accumulating moments of the particle distribution function(s). The test and field particle pair then undergoes a collision using the standard methodology for binary collisions. The performance of the new algorithm is illustrated in example computations and compared to a drag-diffusion Langevin equations algorithm. The grid-based algorithms do not conserve momentum and energy, although with good particle statistics the non-conservation is relatively small. Conservation can be restored after collisions using a shift and scaling of the momenta. The comparative merits of the new algorithm are discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 00219991
- Volume :
- 234
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Journal of Computational Physics
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 83660015
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcp.2012.08.046