arXiv subjects

Patrick Kilian

Publications and source records attributed to Patrick Kilian.

29 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2017

Simulating the Injection of Magnetized Plasma without Electromagnetic Precursor Wave

Injecting magnetized plasma with changes in magnetization or injection rate necessitate a time variable magnetic field at the boundary of the simulation box. Naive implementation will lead to electromagnetic precursor waves that can affect the simulation results. The problem is well-known and is described e.g. in Lemebege and Dawson 1987. Since then few papers have attempted to deal with this problem and no standard solution exists. In this research note we suggest that the ad-hoc pulse shape that was used in the paper by Lemebege and Dawson 1987 can be replaces by a standard digital low pass filter. The cut off frequency of this filter should coincide with the gyro frequency in the magnetized plasma, to make use of (Doppler-broadend) resonant absorption caused by gyrating electrons. We illustrate this idea with a code example and demonstrate the efficency of this method throug sample simulations with our electromagnetic particle-in-cell code.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2017

Recovering the damping rates of cyclotron damped plasma waves from simulation data

Plasma waves with frequencies close to the particular gyrofrequencies of the charged particles in the plasma lose energy due to cyclotron damping. We briefly discuss the gyro-resonance of low frequency plasma waves and ions particularly with regard to particle-in-cell (PiC) simulations. A setup is outlined which uses artificially excited waves in the damped regime of the wave mode's dispersion relation to track the damping of the wave's electromagnetic fields. Extracting the damping rate directly from the field data in real or Fourier space is an intricate and non-trivial task. We therefore present a simple method of obtaining the damping rate Γ from the simulation data. This method is described in detail, focusing on a step-by-step explanation of the course of actions. In a first application to a test simulation we find that the damping rates obtained from this simulation generally are in good agreement with theoretical predictions. We then compare the results of one-, two- and three-dimensional simulation setups and simulations with different physical parameter sets.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2016

Plasma Waves as a Benchmark Problem

A large number of wave modes exist in a magnetized plasma. Their properties are determined by the interaction of particles and waves. In a simulation code, the correct treatment of field quantities and particle behavior is essential to correctly reproduce the wave properties. Consequently, plasma waves provide test problems that cover a large fraction of the simulation code. The large number of possible wave modes and the freedom to choose parameters make the selection of test problems time consuming and comparison between different codes difficult. This paper therefore aims to provide a selection of test problems, based on different wave modes and with well defined parameter values, that is accessible to a large number of simulation codes to allow for easy benchmarking and cross validation. Example results are provided for a number of plasma models. For all plasma models and wave modes that are used in the test problems, a mathematical description is provided to clarify notation and avoid possible misunderstanding in naming.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2016

Particle Scattering off of Right-Handed Dispersive Waves

Resonant scattering of fast particles off low frequency plasma waves is a major process determining transport characteristics of energetic particles in the heliosphere and contributing to their acceleration. Usually, only Alfvén waves are considered for this process, although dispersive waves are also present throughout the heliosphere. We investigate resonant interaction of energetic electrons with dispersive, right-handed waves. For the interaction of particles and a single wave a variable transformation into the rest frame of the wave can be performed. Here, wellestablished analytic models derived in the framework of magnetostatic quasi-linear theory (QLT) can be used as a reference to validate simulation results. However, this approach fails as soon as several dispersive waves are involved. Based on analytic solutions modeling the scattering amplitude in the magnetostatic limit, we present an approach to modify these equations for the use in the plasma frame. Thereby we aim at a description of particle scattering in the presence of several waves. A Particle-in-Cell (PiC) code is employed to study wave-particle scattering on a micro-physically correct level and to test the modified model equations. We investigate the interactions of electrons at different energies (from 1 keV to 1 MeV) and right-handed waves with various amplitudes. Differences between model and simulation arise in the case of high amplitudes or several waves. Analyzing the trajectories of single particles we find no microscopic diffusion in the case of a single plasma wave, although a broadening of the particle distribution can be observed.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2015

Energy loss of intergalactic pair beams: Particle-in-Cell simulation

The change of the distribution function of electron-positron pair beams determines whether GeV photons can be produced as secondary radiation from TeV photons. We will discuss the instabilities driven by pair beams. The system of a thermal proton-electron plasma and the electron-positron beam is collision free. We have, therefore, used the Particle-in-Cell simulation approach. It was necessary to alter the physical parameters, but the ordering of growth rates has been retained. We were able to show that plasma instabilities can be recovered in particle-in-cell simulations, but their effect on the pair distribution function is negligible for beam-background energy density ratios typically found in blazars.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2015

PICPANTHER: A simple, concise implementation of the relativistic moment implicit Particle-in-Cell method

A three-dimensional, parallelized implementation of the electromagnetic relativistic moment implicit particle-in-cell method in Cartesian geometry (Noguchi et. al., 2007) is presented. Particular care was taken to keep the C++11 codebase simple, concise, and approachable. GMRES is used as a field solver and during the Newton-Krylov iteration of the particle pusher. Drifting Maxwellian problem setups are available while more complex simulations can be implemented easily. Several test runs are described and the code's numerical and computational performance is examined. Weak scaling on the SuperMUC system is discussed and found suitable for large-scale production runs.

physics.comp-ph↗

arXiv2014

Fundamental and harmonic plasma emission in different plasma environments

Aims: Emission of radio waves from plasmas through plasma emission with fundamental and harmonic frequencies is a familiar process known from solar type II radio bursts. Current models assume the existence of counterstreaming electron beam populations excited at shocks as sources for these emission features, which limits the plasma parameters to reasonable heliospheric shock conditions. However, situations in which counterstreaming electron beams are present can also occur with different plasma parameters, such as higher magnetisation, including but not limited to our Sun. Similar radio emissions might also occur from these situations. Methods: We used particle-in-cell simulations, to compare plasma microphysics of radio emission processes from counterstreaming beams in different plasma environments that differed in density and magnetization. Results: Although large differences in wave populations are evident, the emission process of type II bursts appears to be qualitatively unaffected and shows the same behaviour in all environments.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2012

Note on the use of Yee-lattices in (semi-) implicit Particle-in-cell codes

A modification of the implicit algorithm for particle-in-cell simulations proposed by Petrov and Davis [2011] is presented. The original lattice arrangement is not inherently divergence-free, possibly leading to unphysical results. This arrangement is replaced by a staggered mesh resulting in a reduction of the divergence of the magnetic field by several orders of magnitude.

physics.comp-ph↗

arXiv2012

Numerical challenges in kinetic simulations of three-wave interactions

Generation of radio bursts in CME foreshock regions and turbulent cascades in the solar wind are assumed to be results of three-wave interaction processes of dispersive plasma modes. Using our Particle in Cell code ACRONYM, we have studied the behaviour of kinetic wavemodes in the presence of beamed electron populations, with a focus on type II radio burst emission processes. We discuss the numerical challenges in generating and analyzing self-consistently evolving wave coupling processes with a PiC-Code and present preliminary results of said project.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2012

Emission of Type II Radio Bursts - Single-Beam versus Two-Beam Scenario

The foreshock region of a CME shock front, where shock accelerated electrons form a beam population in the otherwise quiescent plasma is generally assumed to be the source region of type II radio bursts. Nonlinear wave interaction of electrostatic waves excited by the beamed electrons are the prime candidates for the radio waves' emission. To address the question whether a single, or two counterpropagating beam populations are a requirement for this process, we have conducted 2.5D particle in cell simulations using the fully relativistic ACRONYM code. Results show indications of three wave interaction leading to electromagnetic emission at the fundamental and harmonic frequency for the two-beam case. For the single-beam case, no such signatures were detectable.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2012

Nonlinear Wave Interactions as Emission Process of Type II Radio Bursts

The emission of fundamental and harmonic frequency radio waves of type II radio bursts are assumed to be products of three-wave interaction processes of beam-excited Langmuir waves. Using a particle-in-cell code, we have performed simulations of the assumed emission region, a CME foreshock with two counterstreaming electron beams. Analysis of wavemodes within the simulation shows self-consistent excitation of beam driven modes, which yield interaction products at both fundamental and harmonic emission frequencies. Through variation of the beam strength, we have investigated the dependence of energy transfer into electrostatic and electromagnetic modes, confirming the quadratic dependence of electromagnetic emission on electron beam strength.

astro-ph.SR↗