Electrostatic PIC with adaptive Cartesian mesh

[摘要] We describe an initial implementation of an electrostatic Particle-in-Cell (ES-PIC) module with adaptive Cartesian mesh in our Unified Flow Solver framework. Challenges of PIC method with cell-based adaptive mesh refinement (AMR) are related to a decrease of the particle-per-cell number in the refined cells with a corresponding increase of the numerical noise. The developed ES-PIC solver is validated for capacitively coupled plasma, its AMR capabilities are demonstrated for simulations of streamer development during high-pressure gas breakdown. It is shown that cell-based AMR provides a convenient particle management algorithm for exponential multiplications of electrons and ions in the ionization events.

[发布机构] CFD Research Corporation, Huntsville; AL, United States^1;University of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville; AL; 35899, United States^2

[关键词] Adaptive Cartesian mesh;Capacitively coupled plasmas;Cell-based adaptive mesh refinements;High pressure gas breakdown;Ionization events;Numerical noise;Particle in cell;Unified flow solvers