Finite-temperature corrections to the time-domain equations of motion for perpendicular propagation in nonuniform magnetized plasmas

Abstract

In this paper we extend the new techniques of W. Tierens and D. D. Zutter, J. Comput. Phys. 231, 5144 (2012) to include finite Larmor radius effects up to second order in the Larmor radius. We limit ourselves to the case of propagation perpendicular to the background magnetic field B→0. We show that our time-domain technique is able to produce the lowest-order Bernstein wave (a wave believed to be useful for heating fusion devices [H. P. Laqua, Plasma Phys. Controlled Fusion 49, R1 (2007)]). The discrete equations retain many of the favourable properties described in W. Tierens and D. D. Zutter, J. Comput. Phys. 231, 5144 (2012), i.e., unconditional stability and a straightforward relation between the second-order accurate continuous dispersion relation and the dispersion relation of the discretized problem. The theory is illustrated by a place-independent and a place-dependent temperature numerical example.