VORPAL: a versatile plasma simulation code

Abstract

VORPAL is a new plasma simulation code designed for maximum flexibility through use of advance C++ techniques. Through use of inheritance, VORPAL incorporates multiple models for the plasma and electromagnetic fields. The plasma models include both particle-in-cell and fluid models. Through C++ meta-template programming a single code can be used to simulate one-, two-, or three-dimensional systems with no loss of performance. VORPAL can also be run in either serial or parallel, with the latter using a general domain decomposition. A new fluid algorithm that allows for regions of zero density was developed and incorporated into the code. VORPAL simulation results for the generation of laser wake fields through laser–plasma interaction are presented.