arXiv subjects

Yuri A. Omelchenko

Publications and source records attributed to Yuri A. Omelchenko.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Adaptive Hybrid Modeling of Collisionless Plasma Shocks and Ion Acceleration

We present a novel efficient technique for hybrid (kinetic ions, quasi-neutral fluid electrons) simulations of non-relativistic magnetized collisionless plasma shocks, frequently observed near the Sun, in the solar system, and beyond. This Adaptive Frame-Of-Reference Algorithm (AFORA) enables multi-dimensional simulations of plasma shocks along with concomitant ion acceleration in the shock frame, where shock evolution remains quasi-steady. Compared to moving shocks, this technique allows us to reduce the simulation time and domain size to a minimum while achieving converged shock dynamics and spectra of energetic ions. Using an event-driven (asynchronous) hybrid code, HYPERS, we demonstrate this approach in two spatial dimensions for different orientations of the background magnetic field with respect to the shock normal. Our results show excellent agreement of simulation shocks with observations of interplanetary (IP) shocks. We verify that different shock configurations (quasi-parallel, oblique, and quasi-perpendicular) convert bulk plasma flow energy into ion acceleration with varying degrees of efficiency. These findings underscore the importance of efficient and robust numerical algorithms for future high-resolution modeling of plasma shocks and ion acceleration in three dimensions. In addition to enabling efficient computational studies of collisionless shocks in general, this work paves the way for accurate prediction of seed populations of Solar Energetic Particles (SEPs), generated by coronal mass ejection (CME) shocks. The characteristics of seed ions can be used as inputs to Fokker-Planck models that simulate long-term transport and acceleration of ions along magnetic field lines through their interactions with background solar wind turbulence.

physics.space-ph↗

arXiv2024

Simulation Models for Exploring Magnetic Reconnection

Simulations have played a critical role in the advancement of our knowledge of magnetic reconnection. However, due to the inherently multiscale nature of reconnection, it is impossible to simulate all physics at all scales. For this reason, a wide range of simulation methods have been crafted to study particular aspects and consequences of magnetic reconnection. This chapter reviews many of these methods, laying out critical assumptions, numerical techniques, and giving examples of scientific results. Plasma models described include magnetohydrodynamics (MHD), Hall MHD, Hybrid, kinetic particle-in-cell (PIC), kinetic Vlasov, Fluid models with embedded PIC, Fluid models with direct feedback from energetic populations, and the Rice Convection Model (RCM).

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2024

An Unstructured Body-of-Revolution Electromagnetic Particle-in-Cell Algorithm with Radial Perfectly Matched Layers and Dual Polarizations

A novel electromagnetic particle-in-cell algorithm has been developed for fully kinetic plasma simulations on unstructured (irregular) meshes in complex body-of-revolution geometries. The algorithm, implemented in the BORPIC++ code, utilizes a set of field scalings and a coordinate mapping, reducing the Maxwell field problem in a cylindrical system to a Cartesian finite element Maxwell solver in the meridian plane. The latter obviates the cylindrical coordinate singularity in the symmetry axis. The choice of an unstructured finite element discretization enhances the geometrical flexibility of the BORPIC++ solver compared to the more traditional finite difference solvers. Symmetries in Maxwell's equations are explored to decompose the problem into two dual polarization states with isomorphic representations that enable code reuse. The particle-in-cell scatter and gather steps preserve charge-conservation at the discrete level. Our previous algorithm (BORPIC+) discretized the E and B field components of TE-phi and TM-phi polarizations on the finite element (primal) mesh. A cylindrical perfectly matched layer is implemented as a boundary condition in the radial direction to simulate open space problems, with periodic boundary conditions in the axial direction. We investigate effects of charged particles moving next to the cylindrical perfectly matched layer. We model azimuthal currents arising from rotational motion of charged rings, which produce TM-phi polarized fields. Several numerical examples are provided to illustrate the first application of the algorithm.

math.NA↗

arXiv2024

Accelerating Particle-in-Cell Kinetic Plasma Simulations via Reduced-Order Modeling of Space-Charge Dynamics using Dynamic Mode Decomposition

We present a data-driven reduced-order modeling of the space-charge dynamics for electromagnetic particle-in-cell (EMPIC) plasma simulations based on dynamic mode decomposition (DMD). The dynamics of the charged particles in kinetic plasma simulations such as EMPIC is manifested through the plasma current density defined along the edges of the spatial mesh. We showcase the efficacy of DMD in modeling the time evolution of current density through a low-dimensional feature space. Not only do such DMD-based predictive reduced-order models help accelerate EMPIC simulations, they also have the potential to facilitate investigative analysis and control applications. We demonstrate the proposed DMD-EMPIC scheme for reduced-order modeling of current density, and speed-up in EMPIC simulations involving electron beam under the influence of magnetic field, virtual cathode oscillations, and backward wave oscillator.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2017

Axisymmetric Charge-Conservative Electromagnetic Particle Simulation Algorithm on Unstructured Grids: Application to Microwave Vacuum Electronic Devices

We present a 2.5-dimensional charge-conservative electromagnetic particle-in-cell (EM-PIC) algorithm optimized for the analysis of vacuum electronic devices (VED) with cylindrical symmetry (axisymmetry). We explore the axisymmetry present in the device geometry, fields, and sources to reduce the dimensionality of the problem from 3D to 2D. Further, we explore `transformation optics' principles to map the original problem in polar coordinates to an equivalent problem on Cartesian coordinates with an effective (artificial) inhomogeneous medium introduced. The resulting problem in the meridian plane is discretized using an unstructured 2D mesh considering TE-polarized fields and properly scaled charges. EM field and source variables (node-based charges and edge-based currents) are expressed as differential forms of various degrees, and discretized using Whitney forms. Using leapfrog time integration, we obtain a mixed finite-element time-domain scheme for the full-discrete Maxwell's equations. We achieve a local and explicit time-update for the field equations by employing the sparse approximate inverse (SPAI) algorithm. Interpolating field values to particles' positions for solving Newton-Lorentz equations of motion is also done via Whitney forms. Particles are advanced using the Boris algorithm with a relativistic correction. In the scatter step, we apply a radial scaling factor on top of a charge-conserving scatter scheme tailored for 2-dimensional unstructured grids. As validation examples, we demonstrate simulations that investigate the physical performance of VEDs designed to harness particle bunching effects arising from the coherent (resonance) Cerenkov electron beam interactions within micromachined slow-wave structures.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2016

Exact Charge-Conserving Scatter-Gather Algorithm for Particle-in-Cell Simulations on Unstructured Grids: A Geometric Perspective

We describe a charge-conserving scatter-gather algorithm for particle-in-cell simulations on unstructured grids. Charge conservation is obtained from first principles, i.e., without the need for any post-processing or correction steps. This algorithm recovers, at a fundamental level, the scatter-gather algorithms presented recently by Campos-Pinto et al. [1] (to first-order) and by Squire et al. [2], but it is derived here in a streamlined fashion from a geometric viewpoint. Some ingredients reflecting this viewpoint are (1) the use of (discrete) differential forms of various degrees to represent fields, currents, and charged particles and provide localization rules for the degrees of freedom thereof on the various grid elements (nodes, edges, facets), (2) use of Whitney forms as basic interpolants from discrete differential forms to continuum space, and (3) use of a Galerkin formula for the discrete Hodge star operators (i.e., "mass matrices" incorporating the metric datum of the grid) applicable to generally irregular, unstructured grids. The expressions obtained for the scatter charges and scatter currents are very concise and do not involve numerical quadrature rules. Appropriate fractional areas within each grid element are identified that represent scatter charges and scatter currents within the element, and a simple geometric representation for the (exact) charge conservation mechanism is obtained by such identification. The field update is based on the coupled first-order Maxwell's curl equations to avoid spurious modes with secular growth (otherwise present in formulations that discretize the second-order wave equation). Examples are provided to verify preservation of discrete Gauss' law for all times.

math.NA↗