Regular Article

Parallel implementation of a relativistic semi-Lagrangian Vlasov–Maxwell solver^★

Institut Jean Lamour, UMR 7198, Université de Lorraine, BP 70239, 54506 Vandoeuvre les Nancy Cedex, France

^a e-mail: aalain.ghizzo@univ-lorraine.fr

Received: 17 March 2017
Received in final form: 7 June 2017
Published online: 2 November 2017

Abstract

We describe the parallel implementation of a semi-Lagrangian relativistic VLasov ElectroMagnetic (VLEM) code for the numerical investigation of the dynamics of charged particle distribution in their self-consistent electromagnetic fields. This paper introduces the numerical solution of the Vlasov–Maxwell system in two spatial dimensions, and two or three momentum dimensions. Accuracy, stability, efficiency properties and the implementation of a new algorithm of charge conservation when solving Maxwell equations are discussed. The performances of the code are tested by studying the evolution of Weibel-type instabilities in the relativistic regime. Application to the coupling between Current Filamentation (CFI) and Two-Stream (TSI) instabilities is presented showing the importance of pair-wise vortex merging scenario in the saturation mechanism.