PIC Algorithm with Multiple Poisson Equation Solves During One Time Step

Abstract

In order to reduce the overall computational time of a PIC (particle-in-cell) computer simulation, an attempt was made to utilize larger time step sizes by implementing multiple solutions of Poisson's equation within one time step. The hope was this would make the PIC simulation stable at larger time steps than an explicit technique can use, and using larger time steps would reduce the overall computational time, even though the computational time per time step would increase. A three-dimensional PIC code that tracks electrons and ions throughout a three-dimensional Cartesian computational domain is used to perform this study. The results of altering the number of times Poisson's equation is solved during a single time step are presented. Also, the size of the time that can be used and still maintain a stable solution is surveyed. The results indicate that using multiple Poisson solves during one time step provides some ability to use larger time steps in PIC simulations, but the increase in time step size is not significant and the overall simulation run time is not reduced