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Seiji Zenitani

Publications and source records attributed to Seiji Zenitani.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

An approximate Kappa generator for particle simulations

A random number generator for the Kappa velocity distribution in particle simulations is proposed. Approximating the cumulative distribution function with the q-exponential function, an inverse transform procedure is constructed. The proposed method provides practically accurate results, in particular for k<4. It runs fast on graphics processing units (GPUs). The derivation, numerical validation, and relevance to GPU execution models are discussed.

physics.plasm-ph

Loading non-Maxwellian Velocity Distributions in Particle Simulations

Numerical procedures for generating non-Maxwellian velocity distributions in particle simulations are presented. First, Monte Carlo methods for an $(r,q)$ distribution that generalizes flattop and kappa distributions are discussed. Then, two rejection methods for the regularized kappa distribution are presented, followed by a comparison in the $κ$ space. A simple recipe is proposed for the subtracted kappa distribution. Properties and numerical recipes for the ring and shell distributions with a finite Gaussian width are discussed. The ring and shell Maxwellians are further introduced as alternatives to the ring and shell distributions. Finally, methods for the super-Gaussian and the filled-shell distributions are presented.

physics.plasm-ph

A simple procedure for generating a Kappa distribution in PIC simulation

For kinetic modeling of plasma processes in space, a rejection-sampling procedure for generating a Kappa distribution in particle-in-cell (PIC) simulation is proposed. A Pareto distribution is employed as an envelope distribution. The procedure only requires uniform variates, and its acceptance efficiency is $\approx 0.73$--$0.8$.

physics.plasm-ph

Hyper Boris integrators for kinetic plasma simulations

We propose a family of numerical solvers for the nonrelativistic Newton--Lorentz equation in kinetic plasma simulations. The new solvers extend the standard 4-step Boris procedure, which has second-order accuracy in time, in three ways. First, we repeat the 4-step procedure multiple times, using an $n$-times smaller timestep ($Δt/n$). We derive a formula for the arbitrary subcycling number $n$, so that we obtain the result without repeating the same calculations. Second, prior to the 4-step procedure, we apply Boris-type gyrophase corrections to the electromagnetic field. In addition to a well-known correction to the magnetic field, we correct the electric field in an anisotropic manner to achieve higher-order ($N=2,4,6 \dots$th order) accuracy. Third, combining these two methods, we propose a family of high-accuracy particle solvers, the hyper Boris solvers, which have two hyperparameters of the subcycling number $n$ and the order of accuracy, $N$. The $n$-cycle $N$th-order solver gives a numerical error of $\sim (Δt/n)^{N}$ at affordable computational cost.

physics.comp-ph

A gamma variate generator with shape parameter less than unity

Algorithms for generating random numbers that follow a gamma distribution with shape parameter less than unity are proposed. Acceptance-rejection algorithms are developed, based on the generalized exponential distribution. The squeeze technique is applied to our method, and then piecewise envelope functions are further considered. The proposed methods are excellent in acceptance efficiency and promising in speed.

stat.CO

Magnetic Reconnection and Associated Particle Acceleration in High-energy Astrophysics

Magnetic reconnection occurs ubiquitously in the universe and is often invoked to explain fast energy release and particle acceleration in high-energy astrophysics. The study of relativistic magnetic reconnection in the magnetically dominated regime has surged over the past two decades, revealing the physics of fast magnetic reconnection and nonthermal particle acceleration. Here we review these recent progresses, including the magnetohydrodynamic and collisionless reconnection dynamics as well as particle energization. The insights in astrophysical reconnection strongly connect to the development of magnetic reconnection in other areas, and further communication is greatly desired. We also provide a summary and discussion of key physics processes and frontier problems, toward a better understanding to the roles of magnetic reconnection in high-energy astrophysics.

astro-ph.HE

Loading loss-cone distributions in particle simulations

Numerical procedures to generate random variates that follow loss-cone velocity distributions in particle simulations are presented. We propose a simple summation algorithm for the Ashour-Abdalla--Kennel-type loss-cone distribution, also known as the subtracted Maxwellian. For the Dory-type loss-cone distribution, we use a random variate for the gamma distribution. Extending earlier algorithms for the kappa and Dory-type distributions, we construct a novel algorithm to generate a popular form of a kappa loss-cone distribution. To better express the loss cone, we discuss another family of loss-cone distributions based on the pitch angle. In addition to the acceptance-rejection method, we propose two transformation algorithms that convert an isotropic distribution into a loss-cone distribution. This allows us to generate loss-cone and kappa loss-cone distributions from the Maxwell and kappa distributions.

physics.plasm-ph

Exact Calculation of Nonideal Fields Demonstrates Dominance of Injection in Relativistic Reconnection

Magnetic reconnection is an important source of energetic particles in systems ranging from astrophysics to the laboratory. The large separation of spatiotemporal scales involved makes it critical to determine the minimum physical model containing the necessary physics for modeling particle acceleration. By resolving the energy gain from ideal and nonideal magnetohydrodynamic electric fields self-consistently in kinetic particle-in-cell simulations of reconnection, we conclusively show the dominant role of the nonideal field for the early stage of energization known as injection. The importance of the nonideal field increases with magnetization, guide field, and in three-dimensions, indicating its general importance for reconnection in natural astrophysical systems. We obtain the statistical properties of the injection process from the simulations, paving the way for the development of extended MHD models capable of accurately modeling particle acceleration in large-scale systems. The novel analysis method developed in this study can be applied broadly to give new insight into a wide range of processes in plasma physics.

physics.plasm-ph

Loading a relativistic kappa distribution in particle simulations

A procedure for loading particle velocities from a relativistic kappa distribution in particle-in-cell (PIC) and Monte Carlo simulations is presented. It is based on the rejection method and the beta prime distribution. The rejection part extends earlier method for the Maxwell-Juttner distribution, and then the acceptance rate reaches ~95%. Utilizing the generalized beta prime distributions, we successfully reproduce the relativistic kappa distribution, including the power-law tail. The derivation of the procedure, mathematical preparations, comparison with other procedures, and numerical tests are presented.

physics.plasm-ph

Volume-preserving particle integrator based on exact flow of velocity for nonrelativistic particle-in-cell simulations

We construct a particle integrator for nonrelativistic particles by means of the splitting method based on the exact flow of the equation of motion of particles in the presence of constant electric and magnetic field. This integrator is volume-preserving similar to the standard Boris integrator and is suitable for long-term integrations in particle-in-cell simulations. Numerical tests reveal that it is significantly more accurate than previous volume-preserving integrators with second-order accuracy. For example, in the $E \times B$ drift test, this integrator is more accurate than the Boris integrator and the integrator based on the exact solution of gyro motion by three and two orders of magnitude, respectively. In addition, we derive approximate integrators that incur low computational cost and high-precision integrators displaying fourth- to tenth-order accuracy with the aid of the composition method. These integrators are also volume-preserving. It is also demonstrated that the Boris integrator is equivalent to the simplest case of the approximate integrators derived in this study.

physics.plasm-ph

Plasmoid-dominated Turbulent Reconnection in a Low $β$ Plasma

Properties of plasmoid-dominated turbulent reconnection in a low-$β$ background plasma are investigated by resistive magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulations. In the $β_{\rm in} < 1$ regime, where $β_{\rm in}$ is plasma $β$ in the inflow region, the reconnection site is dominated by shocks and shock-related structures and plasma compression is significant. The effective reconnection rate increases from $0.01$ to $0.02$ as $β_{\rm in}$ decreases. We hypothesize that plasma compression allows faster reconnection rate, and then we estimate a speed-up factor, based on a compressible MHD theory. We validate our prediction by a series of MHD simulations. These results suggest that the plasmoid-dominated reconnection can be twice faster than expected in the $β\ll 1$ environment in a solar corona.

physics.plasm-ph

Multiple Boris integrators for particle-in-cell simulation

We construct Boris-type schemes for integrating the motion of charged particles in particle-in-cell (PIC) simulation. The new solvers virtually combine the 2-step Boris procedure arbitrary n times in the Lorentz-force part, and therefore we call them the multiple Boris solvers. Using Chebyshev polynomials, a one-step form of the new solvers is provided. The new solvers give n^2 times smaller errors, allow larger timesteps, and have a long-term stability. We present numerical tests of the new solvers, in comparison with other particle integrators.

physics.comp-ph

Magnetohydrodynamic Simulation Code CANS+: Assessments and Applications

We present a new magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulation code with the aim of providing accurate numerical solutions to astrophysical phenomena where discontinuities, shock waves, and turbulence are inherently important. The code implements the HLLD approximate Riemann solver, the fifth-order-monotonicity-preserving interpolation (MP5) scheme, and the hyperbolic divergence cleaning method for a magnetic field. This choice of schemes significantly improved numerical accuracy and stability, and saved computational costs in multidimensional problems. Numerical tests of one- and two-dimensional problems showed the advantages of using the high-order scheme by comparing with results from a standard second-order TVD MUSCL scheme. The present code enabled us to explore long-term evolution of a three-dimensional accretion disk around a black hole, in which compressible MHD turbulence caused continuous mass accretion via nonlinear growth of the magneto-rotational instability (MRI). Numerical tests with various computational cell sizes exhibited a convergent picture of the early nonlinear growth of the MRI in a global model, and indicated that the MP5 scheme has more than twice the resolution of the MUSCL scheme in practical applications.

astro-ph.IM

On the Boris solver in particle-in-cell simulation

A simple form of the Boris solver in particle-in-cell (PIC) simulation is proposed. It employs an exact solution of the Lorentz-force part, and it is equivalent to the Boris solver with a gyrophase correction. As a favorable property for stable schemes, this form preserves a volume in the phase space. Numerical tests of the Boris solvers are conducted by test-particle simulations and by PIC simulations. The proposed form provides better accuracy than the popular form, while it only requires few additional computation time.

physics.comp-ph

Dissipation in Relativistic Pair-plasma Reconnection: Revisited

Basic properties of relativistic magnetic reconnection in electron-positron pair plasmas are investigated by using a particle-in-cell (PIC) simulation. We first revisit a problem by Hesse & Zenitani (2007), who examined the kinetic Ohm's law across the X line. We formulate a relativistic Ohm's law by decomposing the stress-energy tensor. Then, the role of the new term, called the heat-flow inertial term, is examined in the PIC simulation data. We further evaluate the energy balance in the reconnection system. These analyses demonstrate physically transparent ways to diagnose relativistic kinetic data.

astro-ph.HE

Electron dynamics surrounding the X-line in asymmetric magnetic reconnection

Electron dynamics surrounding the X-line in magnetopause-type asymmetric reconnection is investigated using a two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulation. We study electron properties of three characteristic regions in the vicinity of the X-line. The fluid properties, velocity distribution functions (VDFs), and orbits are studied and cross-compared. On the magnetospheric side of the X-line, the normal electric field enhances the electron meandering motion from the magnetosheath side. The motion leads to a crescent-shaped component in the electron VDF, in agreement with recent studies. On the magnetosheath side of the X-line, the magnetic field line is so stretched in the third dimension that its curvature radius is comparable with typical electron Larmor radius. The electron motion becomes nonadiabatic, and therefore the electron idealness is no longer expected to hold. Around the middle of the outflow regions, the electron nonidealness is coincident with the region of the nonadiabatic motion. Finally, we introduce a finite-time mixing fraction (FTMF) to evaluate electron mixing. The FTMF marks the magnetospheric side of the X-line, where the nonideal energy dissipation occurs.

physics.plasm-ph

Particle dynamics in the electron current layer in collisionless magnetic reconnection

Particle dynamics in the electron current layer in collisionless magnetic reconnection is investigated by using a particle-in-cell simulation. Electron motion and velocity distribution functions are studied by tracking self-consistent trajectories. New classes of electron orbits are discovered: figure-eight-shaped regular orbits inside the electron jet, noncrossing regular orbits on the jet flanks, noncrossing Speiser orbits, and nongyrotropic electrons in the downstream of the jet termination region. Properties of a super-Alfvénic outflow jet are attributed to an ensemble of electrons traveling through Speiser orbits. Noncrossing orbits are mediated by the polarization electric field near the electron current layer. The noncrossing electrons are found to be non-negligible in number density. The impact of these new orbits to electron mixing, spatial distribution of energetic electrons, and observational signatures, is presented.

astro-ph.SR