Development of particle-in-cell code using the implicit moment method and Monte-Carlo collisions for laboratory plasma simulation
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2020
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Abstract
Plasma simulations have been used for decades as a link between theoretical and
experimental physics, helping to understand the dynamics and phenomena that
occur in plasma. Among the existing methods there are fluid codes (magnetohydrodynamics),
kinetic codes (particle-in-cell) and hybrids codes (which combine
the previously mentioned methods), each with its pros and cons.
In this thesis, a C++ simulation code was developed using the particle-in-cell
implicit moment method (PIC-IMM), which has the advantage of having fewer
constrains than other methods (such as the explicit PIC), maintaining the kinetic
and non-linear effects. In addition, a collision module was implemented using
Monte Carlo Collisions (MCC).
The code was tested with verification and validation tests. The correct movement
and stability of the particles was verified, as well as the dispersion of the
electrostatic fields.
Among the validation tests, the case of two-stream instability, magnetic reconnection
using a Harris-like sheet, Xenon charge-exchange collisions, and Argon
collisions in a rf plasma jet was analyzed.
Each of the tests was analyzed and the results are discussed in the respective
chapters. Although the results obtained are satisfactory, it remains to simulate
new laboratory experiments, and compare with experimental data.
Description
Tesis (Master of Science in Physics)--Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, 2020