Solving Poisson equation with slowing-down equilibrium distribution for global gyrokinetic simulation

Abstract

Fusion-born alpha particles in burning plasmas are usually regarded as have a slowing-down distribution, which differs significantly from the Maxwellian distribution of thermal particles in velocity space. A generalized multi-point average method has been developed for gyrokinetic Poisson equation with slowing-down equilibrium distribution using optimization in Fourier space. Its accuracy is verified in both long and short wavelength limits. The influence of changing equilibrium distribution from Maxwellian to slowing-down on gyrokinetic Poisson equation is analyzed to illustrate the significance of the new method. The effect of critical speed in the slowing-down distribution on the field solver is also presented. This method forms an important basis for global gyrokinetic simulation of low-frequency drift Alfvénic turbulence in burning plasmas.