Work

Verification of the PICLS electromagnetic upgrade in mixed variables

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: The gyrokinetic particle-in-cell code PICLS is a full-f finite element tool to simulate turbulence in open and closed field lines. During the previous year, the capability of PICLS was extended to encompass electromagnetic effects. Successful tests using the method of manufactured solutions were conducted on the freshly added Ampère’s-law-solver, and shear Alfvén waves were simulated to verify the new electromagnetic time step. However, as a code based on the p | | -formulation of the gyrokinetic equations, PICLS is affected by the Ampère-cancellation problem. In order to bring higher-beta simulations within reach of our computational capacity, we implemented the mixed-variable formulation with pullback-scheme in a similar fashion to, e.g. EUTERPE, ORB5, or XGC. Here, we present the successful verification of the different electromagnetic formulations of PICLS by simulating shear-Alfvén waves in a test setup designed to minimize kinetic effects.

Source: Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion

DOI: 10.1088/1361-6587/adcf53

Authors: A Stier, A Bottino, D Coster, T Hayward-Schneider, L Villard, F Jenko

Institutions: Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne

Language: English

Topic: Magnetic confinement fusion research

Subfield: Nuclear and High Energy Physics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,325

Funder: EUROfusion