ALLIANCE: Spectral solver for kinetic plasma turbulence

• Published in: Journal of computational physics Vol. 495; p. 112550
• Main Authors: Gorbunov, Evgeny A., Teaca, Bogdan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Inc 15-12-2023
• Subjects: Drift kinetic equations; Plasma turbulence; Pseudo-spectral solver; Pseudo-spectral solver; Drift kinetic equations; Plasma turbulence
• ISSN: 0021-9991; 1090-2716
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jcp.2023.112550

The ALLIANCE (ALLIANCE - spectrAL soLver for kInetic plAsma turbuleNCE) code is developed to solve a new set of four-dimensional electromagnetic drift-kinetic equations in slab geometry [1]. The nonlinear equations are useful for the study of magnetized plasma systems at scales comparable to, or larger than the ion gyroradius. In particular, it is suited for the study the kinetic turbulent cascade in astrophysical plasma, while preserving finite Larmor radius effects at the fluid-kinetic transition. The equations solved are in spectral Fourier-Laguerre-Hermite form, a pseudo-spectral approach is used for the nonlinear terms, and the code is parallelised over multiple directions. After a presentation of the code, validation runs are shown, and benchmarks for serial and parallel computations are presented.
•Four-dimensional equations to study plasma turbulence are presented in the form applicable for numerical studies.•Numerical tests proving convergence of linear and nonlinear solver are shown.•Linear run showing the linear phase mixing is shown.•Nonlinear run showing the ability of the system to develop turbulence is shown.•Performance tests results are shown.