Implicit, partially linearized, electromagnetic particle simulation of plasma drift-wave turbulence

Abstract

Implicit, perturbative algorithms [B. I. Cohen, A. M. Dimits, J. J. Stimson, and D. C. Barnes, Phys. Rev. E 53, 2708 (1996)] are extended to address electromagnetic particle simulation of drift-wave instabilities in electron and ion plasmas with a strong applied magnetic field. The algorithms use gyrokinetic ions and drift-kinetic electrons with a realistic mass ratio. Implicit moment and direct implicit solutions of the coupled Maxwell and plasma dynamical equations are demonstrated. Aspects of the numerical dispersion properties are confirmed in test simulations. Applications to ion-temperature-gradient and collisionless drift instabilities in a two-dimensional slab with magnetic shear are presented that illustrate the efficacy of the algorithms and the electromagnetic effects.