Contemporary particle-in-cell approach to laser-plasma modelling. (10th September 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Arber, T D; Bennett, K; Brady, C S; Lawrence-Douglas, A; Ramsay, M G; Sircombe, N J; Gillies, P; Evans, R G; Schmitz, H; Bell, A R; Ridgers, C P
• Is Part Of: Plasma physics and controlled fusion. Volume 57:Number 11(2015:Nov.)
• Publication Date: 2015-09-10
• Subjects: laser-plasmas -- particle-in-cell -- numerical; Plasma (Ionized gases) -- Periodicals; Controlled fusion -- Periodicals; 530.44
• DOI: 10.1088/0741-3335/57/11/113001
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0741-3335

Abstract

Abstract: Particle-in-cell (PIC) methods have a long history in the study of laser-plasma interactions. Early electromagnetic codes used the Yee staggered grid for field variables combined with a leapfrog EM-field update and the Boris algorithm for particle pushing. The general properties of such schemes are well documented. Modern PIC codes tend to add to these high-order shape functions for particles, Poisson preserving field updates, collisions, ionisation, a hybrid scheme for solid density and high-field QED effects. In addition to these physics packages, the increase in computing power now allows simulations with real mass ratios, full 3D dynamics and multi-speckle interaction. This paper presents a review of the core algorithms used in current laser-plasma specific PIC codes. Also reported are estimates of self-heating rates, convergence of collisional routines and test of ionisation models which are not readily available elsewhere. Having reviewed the status of PIC algorithms we present a summary of recent applications of such codes in laser-plasma physics, concentrating on SRS, short-pulse laser-solid interactions, fast-electron transport, and QED effects.