Vlasov simulations on an adaptive phase-space grid

We introduce here a new method for the numerical resolution of the Vlasov equation on a phase space grid using an adaptive semi-Lagrangian method. The adaptivity is obtained through a multiresolution analysis which enables to keep or remove grid points from the simulation depending on the size of their associated coefficients in a multiresolution expansion. The adaptive algorithm consists in three steps : prediction of the active grid points at the next time step, the usual semi-Lagrangian algorithm, and a compression allowing to eliminate unnecessary grid points. Key words: Vlasov; phase-space grid; adaptive; multiresolution; plasma physics; beam physics. The numerical resolution of the Vlasov equation is usually performed by particle methods (PIC) which consist in approximating the plasma by a finite number of particles. The trajectories of these particles are computed from the characteristic curves given by the Vlasov equation, whereas self-consistent fields are computed on a mesh ...

• Type: Journal
• Year: 2004
• Where: CPHYSICS
• Authors: Michael Gutnic, Matthieu Haefele, I. Paun, Eric Sonnendrücker
• Keywords: CPHYSICS 2004, Grid, Phase Space, Vlasov Equation