Kinetic Simulation of Experiments on the Los Alamos Inertial Electrostatic Confinement Device
Author: Richard A. Nebel
Submitted: 2005-12-21 11:44:51
Co-authors: E. Evstatiev, G. Lapenta, R. A. Nebel, J. Park
Contact Info:
Los Alamos National Laboratory
MS K717
Los Alamos, NM 87545
USA
Abstract Text:
We discuss the application of the CELESTE simulation package to the simulation of experiments conducted at the Los Alamos Inertial-Electrostatic Confinement (IEC) device [1,2].
Recently considerable new experimental advances have been made [3], particularly with regards to the study of the stability of the electron population in the virtual cathode [4] and on proving experimentally the POP solutions predicted theoretically [5,6]. The momentous advance made experimentally requires a new simulation effort for explaining and interpreting some of the experimental findings, particularly in the area of the stability of the configurations obtained experimentally. To this end we have conducted a 2D stability study of the virtual cathode in the Los Alamos IEC device using the DEMOCRITUS package [7].
DEMOCRITUS is a 2D general geometry electrostatic PIC code. Three fundamental ingredients compose the package. First, we have a selection of different particle solvers including the explicit Boris algorithm, the implicit predictor-corrector scheme and a new fully implicit particle mover based on a Newton non-linear solver [8]. Second, we use an adaptive grid with a general geometry discretization of the Poisson equation [9]. Third, we use the immersed boundary method to handle complex geometric features (e.g. the presence of the grids to accelerate the particle in the IEC device) [10].
In the present poster we describe the approach, we present a complete 2D stability study of the virtual cathode observed in the device and we investigate the presence of the two stream instability and its physical mechanisms.
[1] http://www.lanl.gov/physics/projects/pds_ps01.shtml
[2] R.A. Nebel, D.C Barnes, Fusion Technology 38, 28 (1998).
[3] R. A. Nebel, S. Stange, J. Park, J. M. Taccetti, S. K. Murali, and C. E. Garcia, Phys. Plasmas
12, 012701 (2005).
[4] J. Park, R. A. Nebel, W. G. Rellergert, M. D. Sekora, Phys. Plasmas 10, 3841 (2003).
[5] D. C. Barnes, R. A. Nebel, Phys. Plasmas 5, 2498 (1998).
[6] R. A. Nebel, J. M. Finn, Phys. Plasmas 7, 839 (2000).
[7] G. Lapenta, Phys. Plasmas 6, 1442 (1999).
[8] G. Lapenta, G. Zuccaro, C. Tronci, J. Comput. Phys., submitted.
[9] G. Lapenta, J. Comput. Phys. 181 317 (2002).
[10] G. Lapenta and JU Brackbill, IEEE Trans. Plasma Sci. 24, 105 (1996).
Improvement category: C. Plasma Science category: E10
Characterization: C,E10
Comments:
Alberto is presently out of the country. Please send correspondance to:
R. A. Nebel
MS K717
Los Alamos National Laboratory
Los Alamso, NM 87545
(505) 667-7721, rnebel@lanl.gov
