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All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2024

Mixing effects on spectroscopy and partonic observables of heavy mesons with logarithmic confining potential in a light-front quark model

Using the variational principle, we systematically investigate the mass spectra and wave functions of both 1⁢𝑆 and 2⁢𝑆 state heavy pseudoscalar (𝑃) and vector (𝑉) mesons within the light-front quark model. This approach incorporates a Coulomb plus logarithmic confinement potential to accurately describe the constituent quark and antiquark dynamics. Additionally, spin hyperfine interactions are introduced perturbatively to compute the masses of pseudoscalar and vector mesons. The present analyses of the 1⁢𝑆 and 2⁢𝑆 states require the consideration of mixing between them to account for empirical constraints. These constraints include the mass gap Δ⁢𝑀 𝑃 >Δ⁢𝑀 𝑉 , where Δ⁢𝑀 𝑃⁡(𝑉) =𝑀$^{2⁢𝑆}_{𝑃⁡(𝑉)}$−𝑀$^{1⁢𝑆}_{𝑃⁡(𝑉)}$ and the hierarchy of the decay constants 𝑓 1⁢𝑆 >𝑓 2⁢𝑆 . We find the optimal value of the mixing angle to be 𝜃 =1⁢8°, significantly enhancing the consistency between our spectroscopic predictions and the experimental data compiled by the Particle Data Group. Furthermore, based on the predicted mass, the newly observed resonance 𝐵 𝐽⁡ (5840) could be assigned as a 2 1⁢ 𝑆 0 state in the 𝐵 meson family. The study also reports various pertinent observables, including twist-two distribution amplitudes, electromagnetic form factors, charge radii, 𝜉 moments, and transition form factors that are found to be consistent with both available lattice simulations and experimental data. In addition, our predicted branching ratios for the channels of 𝐵 + →𝜏 + ⁢𝜈 𝜏 as well as rare decays of 𝐵 0 and 𝐵$^0_𝑠$ appear in accordance with experimental data.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Development of an MCP-Based Timing Layer for the LHCb ECAL Upgrade-2

The increase in instantaneous luminosity during the high-luminosity phase of the LHC represents a significant challenge for future detectors. A strategy to cope with high-pileup conditions is to add a fourth dimension to the measurements of the hits, by exploiting the time separation of the various proton–proton primary collisions. According to LHCb simulation studies, resolutions of about 10–20 picoseconds, at least an order of magnitude shorter than the average time span between primary interactions, would be greatly beneficial for the physics reach of the experiment. Microchannel plate (MCP) photomultipliers are compact devices capable of measuring the arrival time of charged particles with the required resolution. The technology of large-area picosecond photodetectors (LAPPDs) is under investigation to implement a timing layer that can be placed within a sampling calorimeter module with the purpose of measuring the arrival time of electromagnetic showers. LAPPD performances, using a Gen-I tile with a delay-line anode and a Gen-II with a capacitively coupled anode, have been measured thoroughly both with laser (wavelength of 405 nm and pulse width of 27.5 ps FWHM) and high-energy electron (1–5.8 GeV) beams. Time resolutions of the order of 30 ps for single photoelectrons and 15 ps for electromagnetic showers initiated by 5-GeV electrons, as measured at the shower maximum, are obtained.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2023

Simulating the Excited-State Dynamics of Polaritons with Ab Initio Multiple Spawning

Over the past decade, there has been a growth of interest in polaritonic chemistry, where the formation of hybrid light–matter states (polaritons) can alter the course of photochemical reactions. These hybrid states are created by strong coupling between molecules and photons in resonant optical cavities and can even occur in the absence of light when the molecule is strongly coupled with the electromagnetic fluctuations of the vacuum field. Here, we present a first-principles model to simulate nonadiabatic dynamics of such polaritonic states inside optical cavities by leveraging graphical processing units (GPUs). Our first implementation of this model is specialized for a single molecule coupled to a single-photon mode confined inside the optical cavity but with any number of excited states computed using complete active space configuration interaction (CASCI) and a Jaynes–Cummings-type Hamiltonian. Using this model, we have simulated the excited-state dynamics of a single salicylideneaniline (SA) molecule strongly coupled to a cavity photon with the ab initio multiple spawning (AIMS) method. We demonstrate how the branching ratios of the photodeactivation pathways for this molecule can be manipulated by coupling to the cavity. We also show how one can stop the photoreaction from happening inside of an optical cavity. Finally, we also investigate cavity-based control of the ordering of two excited states (one optically bright and the other optically dark) inside a cavity for a set of molecules, where the dark and bright states are close in energy.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2017

Laboratory reflectometer for the investigation of optical elements in a wavelength range of 5–50 nm: description and testing results

We describe a laboratory reflectometer developed at the IPM RAS for precision measurements of spectral and angular dependences of the reflection and transmission coefficients of optical elements in a wavelength range of 5–50 nm. The radiation is monochromatised using a high-resolution Czerny–Turner spectrometer with a plane diffraction grating and two spherical collimating mirrors. A toroidal mirror focuses the probe monochromatic beam on a sample. The X-ray source is a highly ionised plasma produced in the interaction of a high-power laser beam with a solid target at an intensity of 10{sup 11}–10{sup 12} W cm{sup –2}. To stabilise the emission characteristics, the target executes translatory and rotary motions in such a way that every pulse irradiates a new spot. The short-focus lens is protected from contamination by erosion products with the use of a specially designed electromagnetic system. The samples under study are mounted on a goniometer is accommodated in a dedicated chamber, which provides five degrees of freedom for samples up to 500 mm in diameter and two degrees of freedom for a detector. The sample mass may range up to 10 kg. The X-ray radiation is recorded with a detector composed of a CsI photocathode and two microchannel plates. A similar detector monitors the probe beam intensity. The spectral reflectometer resolution is equal to 0.030 nm with the use of ruled gratings with a density of 900 lines mm{sup –1} (spectral range: 5–20 nm) and to 0.067 nm for holographic gratings with a density of 400 lines mm{sup –1} (spectral range: 10–50 nm). We analyse the contribution of higher diffraction orders to the probe signal intensity and the ways of taking it into account in the measurements. Examples are given which serve to illustrate the reflectometer application to the study of multilayer mirrors and filters. (paper)

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2014

Propagation And Damping Of High Harmonic Fast Waves And Electron Cyclotron Waves In The Nstx-U-Device

For the spherical torus and for conventional tokamaks to be viable means of producing fusion energy there are two important requirements. The first is to heat the plasma in the experimental devices to high temperatures; preferably, to fusion relevant temperatures. The second is to drive a current in the plasma so that the fusion device operates in a steady-state mode. A pulsed fusion reactor for energy production is not desirable. A favored means to achieve both of these requirements is through the use of microwaves, commonly referred to as radio frequency waves. This proposal was to understand observations from the National Spherical Torus Experiment Upgrade (NSTX-U) device on radio frequency wave heating of the confined plasma during operations with high harmonic fast waves. The proposed research was also directed toward assisting in the optimization of the experimental modes of operation so as to maximize the heating efficiency. A detailed analysis of the experiments has shown that about one-third of the input radio frequency power does not make it into the core region of the plasma where heating is required. The losses are believed to occur primarily in the edge region where the radio frequency power is initially coupled into the plasma. Using sophisticated computational codes and theoretical models, that have been developed for the NSTX-U experimental program, this research quantified the physical processes which occur in the edge plasma and lead to a decrease in the heating efficiency. The effect of edge turbulence on the scattering of radio frequency waves was studied for waves in the ion cyclotron and electron cyclotron range of frequencies. For high harmonic fast waves in the ion cyclotron range of frequencies, simulations were carried out using a full-wave solver that was extended to the vacuum vessel wall. These simulations successfully reproduced trends that were observed experimentally. This simulation capability was also used to study the interaction of high harmonic fast waves with the scrape-off layer plasma. More recently, a new technique has been developed for the calculation of radio frequency waves in toroidal geometry that enables the simultaneous incorporation of antenna geometry, plasma facing components, the scrape off-layer, and core propagation in the high harmonic fast wave regime. The effect of turbulent plasmas on the mode conversion of extraordinary electromagnetic waves in the electron cyclotron range of frequencies in the NSTX-U plasma has been studied theoretically. In the over-dense plasmas of NSTX-U, the traditional electromagnetic waves are not effective for delivering energy and momentum to the core plasma. However, electron Bernstein waves generated by mode conversion are efficient carriers of wave energy and momentum to the core. The mode conversion occurs in the turbulent edge region. A theory for mode conversion in such plasmas has been developed. The parameters that can optimize the mode conversion can be readily determined. Also, the model is useful for experimentalists to analyze observation on a shot-to-shot basis.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2014

Propagation And Damping Of High Harmonic Fast Waves And Electron Cyclotron Waves In The Nstx-U-Device

For the spherical torus and for conventional tokamaks to be viable means of producing fusion energy there are two important requirements. The first is to heat the plasma in the experimental devices to high temperatures; preferably, to fusion relevant temperatures. The second is to drive a current in the plasma so that the fusion device operates in a steady-state mode. A pulsed fusion reactor for energy production is not desirable. A favored means to achieve both of these requirements is through the use of microwaves, commonly referred to as radio frequency waves. This proposal was to understand observations from the National Spherical Torus Experiment Upgrade (NSTX-U) device on radio frequency wave heating of the confined plasma during operations with high harmonic fast waves. The proposed research was also directed toward assisting in the optimization of the experimental modes of operation so as to maximize the heating efficiency. A detailed analysis of the experiments has shown that about one-third of the input radio frequency power does not make it into the core region of the plasma where heating is required. The losses are believed to occur primarily in the edge region where the radio frequency power is initially coupled into the plasma. Using sophisticated computational codes and theoretical models, that have been developed for the NSTX-U experimental program, this research quantified the physical processes which occur in the edge plasma and lead to a decrease in the heating efficiency. The effect of edge turbulence on the scattering of radio frequency waves was studied for waves in the ion cyclotron and electron cyclotron range of frequencies. For high harmonic fast waves in the ion cyclotron range of frequencies, simulations were carried out using a full-wave solver that was extended to the vacuum vessel wall. These simulations successfully reproduced trends that were observed experimentally. This simulation capability was also used to study the interaction of high harmonic fast waves with the scrape-off layer plasma. More recently, a new technique has been developed for the calculation of radio frequency waves in toroidal geometry that enables the simultaneous incorporation of antenna geometry, plasma facing components, the scrape off-layer, and core propagation in the high harmonic fast wave regime. The effect of turbulent plasmas on the mode conversion of extraordinary electromagnetic waves in the electron cyclotron range of frequencies in the NSTX-U plasma has been studied theoretically. In the over-dense plasmas of NSTX-U, the traditional electromagnetic waves are not effective for delivering energy and momentum to the core plasma. However, electron Bernstein waves generated by mode conversion are efficient carriers of wave energy and momentum to the core. The mode conversion occurs in the turbulent edge region. A theory for mode conversion in such plasmas has been developed. The parameters that can optimize the mode conversion can be readily determined. Also, the model is useful for experimentalists to analyze observation on a shot-to-shot basis.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2026

Constraining neutrino-nucleon form factors with charged-current scattering at the Electron-Ion Collider

Next-generation neutrino oscillation experiments such as the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment require percent-level knowledge of neutrino-nucleon interaction cross sections. The nucleon axial form factor 𝐹 𝐴 ⁡(𝑄 2 ), parametrized by the axial mass 𝑀 𝐴 , is the dominant source of uncertainty in the quasielastic channel, and the parity-violating structure function 𝑥⁢𝐹 3 is poorly constrained on free nucleons. We propose using charged-current (CC) electron-proton scattering at the Electron-Ion Collider (EIC) to address both problems simultaneously. The measurement exploits three key features of the EIC: (1) helicity-selective electron bunches provide in situ electromagnetic background rejection; (2) a longitudinally polarized proton target enables extraction of 𝐹 𝐴 ⁡(𝑄 2 ) through the target-spin asymmetry 𝐴 𝑈⁢𝐿 ; and (3) the 𝑦-distribution leverage in CC deep inelastic scattering (DIS) separates 𝐹 2 and 𝑥⁢𝐹 3 on a free proton, without nuclear corrections. Using a Fisher information analysis at $\sqrt{𝑠}$ =141 GeV with 500 fb −1 of integrated luminosity, we project the Cramér-Rao statistical floor of 𝛿⁢𝑀 𝐴 ≈0.03 GeV (3%). Incorporating first-order realistic detector effects, such as zero-degree calorimeter acceptance, 𝑄 2 smearing (5%), and background noise from helicity subtraction, the projected sensitivity is severely background-limited due to the small signal-to-background ratio (𝑆/𝐵 ≈ 3 ×10 −4 ) in the elastic channel. Achieving competitive sensitivity (𝛿⁢𝑀 𝐴 ≈ 0.14 GeV) would require ∼10 −7 background suppression, 3 orders of magnitude beyond current projections. The CC DIS 𝑦 distribution provides subpercent extraction of 𝑥⁢𝐹$^{𝑊^{−}}_{3}$ over 0.05 < 𝑥 < 0.5, representing the most robust electroweak measurement in the near term.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2016

Electromagnetic analysis of the plasma chamber of an ECR-based charge breeder

The optimization of the efficiency of an ECR-based charge breeder is a twofold task: efforts must be paid to maximize the capture of the injected 1+ ions by the confined plasma and to produce high charge states to allow post-acceleration at high energies. Both tasks must be faced by studying in detail the electrons heating dynamics, influenced by the microwave-to-plasma coupling mechanism. Numerical simulations are a powerful tools for obtaining quantitative information about the wave-to-plasma interaction process: this paper presents a numerical study of the microwaves propagation and absorption inside the plasma chamber of the PHOENIX charge breeder, which the selective production of exotic species project, under construction at Legnaro National Laboratories, will adopt as charge breeder. Calculations were carried out with a commercial 3D FEM solver: first, all the resonant frequencies were determined by considering a simplified plasma chamber; then, the realistic geometry was taken into account, including a cold plasma model of increasing complexity. The results gave important information about the power absorption and losses and will allow the improvement of the plasma model to be used in a refined step of calculation reproducing the breeding process itself.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2014

Investigation of EMIC wave scattering as the cause for the BARREL 17 January 2013 relativistic electron precipitation event: A quantitative comparison of simulation with observations

Electromagnetic ion cyclotron (EMIC) waves were observed at multiple observatory locations for several hours on 17 January 2013. During the wave activity period, a duskside relativistic electron precipitation (REP) event was observed by one of the Balloon Array for Radiation belt Relativistic Electron Losses (BARREL) balloons and was magnetically mapped close to Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) 13. We simulate the relativistic electron pitch angle diffusion caused by gyroresonant interactions with EMIC waves using wave and particle data measured by multiple instruments on board GOES 13 and the Van Allen Probes. We show that the count rate, the energy distribution, and the time variation of the simulated precipitation all agree very well with the balloon observations, suggesting that EMIC wave scattering was likely the cause for the precipitation event. The event reported here is the first balloon REP event with closely conjugate EMIC wave observations, and our study employs the most detailed quantitative analysis on the link of EMIC waves with observed REP to date.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2015

Variational symplectic particle-in-cell simulation of nonlinear mode conversion from extraordinary waves to Bernstein waves

In this paper, the nonlinear mode conversion of extraordinary waves in nonuniform magnetized plasmas is studied using the variational symplectic particle-in-cell simulation. The accuracy of the nonlinear simulation is guaranteed by the long-term accuracy and conservativeness of the symplectic algorithm. The spectra of the electromagnetic wave, the evolution of the wave reflectivity, the energy deposition profile, and the parameter-dependent properties of radio-frequency waves during the nonlinear mode conversion are investigated. It is illustrated that nonlinear effects significantly modify the physics of the radio-frequency injection in magnetized plasmas. The evolutions of the radio-frequency wave reflectivity and the energy deposition are observed, as well as the self-interaction of the Bernstein waves and mode excitations. Even for waves with small magnitude, nonlinear effects can also become important after continuous wave injections, which are common in the realistic radio-frequency wave heating and current drive experiments.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2024

Dynamical ejecta from binary neutron star mergers: Impact of a small residual eccentricity and of the equation of state implementation

Predicting the properties of the matter ejected during and after a neutron star merger is crucial to our ability to use electromagnetic observations of these mergers to constrain the masses of the neutron stars, the equation of state of dense matter, and the role of neutron star mergers in the enrichment of the Universe in heavy elements. Furthermore, our ability to reliably provide such predictions is however limited by a broad range of factors, including the finite resolution of numerical simulations, their treatment of magnetic fields, neutrinos, and neutrino-matter interactions, and the approximate modeling of the equation of state of dense matter. In this manuscript, we study specifically the role that a small residual eccentricity and different implementations of the same equation of state have on the matter ejected during the merger of a 1.3M ⊙ –1.4M ⊙ binary neutron star system. We find that a residual eccentricity e ~ 0.01, as measured ~ 4–6 orbits before merger, causes O(25%–30%) changes in the amount of ejected mass, mainly due to changes in the amount of matter ejected as a result of core bounces during merger. We note that O(1%) residual eccentricities have regularly been used in binary neutron star merger simulations as proxy for circular binaries, potentially creating an additional source of error in predictions for the mass of the dynamical ejecta.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2015

Modulational excitation of inhomogeneities in dusty ionospheric plasma

The mechanism for the formation of inhomogeneities of the electron and ion densities in dusty ionospheric plasma as a result of the modulational instability of a pump electromagnetic wave caused by the excitation of dust acoustic perturbations is considered. The inhomogeneities of the electron density produced by the monochromatic radiation of heating facilities at altitudes of 80 and 100 km are estimated numerically. The possibility of excitation of relatively large inhomogeneities of the electron and ion densities δn{sub e(i)}/n{sub e(i)} ≈ 0.05 at altitudes of 80–100 km as a result of modulational interaction is demonstrated. The applicability domains of the method presented in this work are determined.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2013

Spin effect on parametric decay of oblique Langmuir wave in degenerate magneto-plasmas

The electron spin −1/2 effects on the parametric decay instability of oblique Langmuir wave into low-frequency electromagnetic shear Alfven wave and Left-Handed Circularly Polarized wave (LHCP) has been investigated in detail, in an electron-ion quantum plasma immersed in the uniform external magnetic field. Incorporating the quantum effects due to electron spin, Fermi pressure and Bohm potential term, the quantum magneto-hydrodynamic (QMHD) model has been used to investigate the linear and nonlinear response of the plasma species for three-wave coupling interaction in a quantum magneto-plasmas. Nonlinear dispersion relations and growth rate of the problem have been derived analytically. It has been shown that the spin of electrons has considerable effect on the growth rate of parametric instability problem even when the external magnetic field B{sub 0} is below the quantum critical magnetic field strength B{sub Q}=4.4138×10{sup 13}G.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2018

Dipolar quantum logic for freely rotating trapped molecular ions

We consider the practical feasibility of using the direct, electric dipole-dipole interaction between cotrapped molecular ions for robust quantum logic without the need for static polarizing fields. Here, the use of oscillating dipole moments, as opposed to static electric dipoles, dynamically decouples the dipoles from laboratory fields, including the electric fields of the trap itself. Further, this implementation does not require the quantum control of motion, potentially removing a major roadblock to ion trap quantum computing scalability. Since the polarizing field is electromagnetic radiation, even pairs of states with splittings in the THz regime can be fully polarized.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2025

Dynamics of hot QCD matter 2024 — Bulk properties

The second Hot QCD Matter 2024 conference at IIT Mandi focused on various ongoing topics in high-energy heavy-ion collisions, encompassing theoretical and experimental perspectives. This proceedings volume includes 19 contributions that collectively explore diverse aspects of the bulk properties of hot QCD matter. The topics encompass the dynamics of electromagnetic fields, transport properties, hadronic matter, spin hydrodynamics, and the role of conserved charges in high-energy environments. These studies significantly enhance our understanding of the complex dynamics of hot QCD matter, the quark–gluon plasma (QGP) formed in high-energy nuclear collisions. Advances in theoretical frameworks, including hydrodynamics, spin dynamics and fluctuation studies, aim to improve theoretical calculations and refine our knowledge of the thermodynamic properties of strongly interacting matter. Experimental efforts, such as those conducted by the ALICE and STAR collaborations, play a vital role in validating these theoretical predictions and deepening our insight into the QCD phase diagram, collectivity in small systems, and the early-stage behavior of strongly interacting matter. In conclusion, combining theoretical models with experimental observations offers a comprehensive understanding of the extreme conditions encountered in relativistic heavy-ion and proton-proton collisions.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2019

Modeling Astrophysical Explosions and the Nucleosynthesis of the Heavy Elements

The heavier elements in the Universe were created and dispersed in the supernova explosions of stars. These events involve a fascinating interplay of nuclear physics, gravity, hydrodynamics, neutrino and photon transport, and radioactive decay, all occurring under extreme conditions. Astronomical experiments provide a rich and constraining data set, but our theoretical understanding of supernovae remains incomplete. The goal of this project is to advance numerical models of astrophysical explosions and use them to connect the nuclear theory of supernovae to current observational and experimental programs. Our contributions focus on one important aspect of the problem --modeling the transport of radiation (both neutrino and electromagnetic) which is essential to understanding the supernova explosion mechanism, the resulting nucleosynthesis, and the observable spectra and light curves. We will exploit recent advances in high performance computing to improve 3-dimensional simulations of core collapse supernovae and neutron star mergers. The benefits include: 1) Further defining the explosive astrophysical environments that govern the nucleosynthesis of r-process nuclei. 2) Preparing the way for more realistic treatments of neutrino interactions, with the ultimate goal of making supernovae a testing ground for probing fundamental neutrino physics, e.g., unknown mixing angles and new aspects of the MSW mechanism. 3) Providing a means for testing explosion simulations and nucleosynthesis calculations against data from optical and x-ray telescopes, thereby permitting the experimental validation or falsification of supernova models. 4) Helping position nuclear physics, through the development of new algorithms of the type incorporated in our simulation codes, to play a leading role in DOE large scale computing.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2017

Multi-fluid Modeling of Magnetosonic Wave Propagation in the Solar Chromosphere: Effects of Impact Ionization and Radiative Recombination

In order to study chromospheric magnetosonic wave propagation including, for the first time, the effects of ion–neutral interactions in the partially ionized solar chromosphere, we have developed a new multi-fluid computational model accounting for ionization and recombination reactions in gravitationally stratified magnetized collisional media. The two-fluid model used in our 2D numerical simulations treats neutrals as a separate fluid and considers charged species (electrons and ions) within the resistive MHD approach with Coulomb collisions and anisotropic heat flux determined by Braginskiis transport coefficients. The electromagnetic fields are evolved according to the full Maxwell equations and the solenoidality of the magnetic field is enforced with a hyperbolic divergence-cleaning scheme. The initial density and temperature profiles are similar to VAL III chromospheric model in which dynamical, thermal, and chemical equilibrium are considered to ensure comparison to existing MHD models and avoid artificial numerical heating. In this initial setup we include simple homogeneous flux tube magnetic field configuration and an external photospheric velocity driver to simulate the propagation of MHD waves in the partially ionized reactive chromosphere. In particular, we investigate the loss of chemical equilibrium and the plasma heating related to the steepening of fast magnetosonic wave fronts in the gravitationally stratified medium.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2020

A quasi-static particle-in-cell algorithm based on an azimuthal Fourier decomposition for highly efficient simulations of plasma-based acceleration: QPAD

The three-dimensional (3D) quasi-static particle-in-cell (PIC) algorithm is a very efficient method for modeling short-pulse laser or relativistic charged particle beam–plasma interactions. In this algorithm, the plasma response, i.e., plasma wave wake, to a non-evolving laser or particle beam is calculated using a set of Maxwell’s equations based on the quasi-static approximate equations that exclude radiation. The plasma fields are then used to advance the laser or beam forward using a large time step. The algorithm is many orders of magnitude faster than a 3D fully explicit relativistic electromagnetic PIC algorithm. It has been shown to be capable to accurately model the evolution of lasers and particle beams in a variety of scenarios. Additionally, at the same time, an algorithm in which the fields, currents and Maxwell equations are decomposed into azimuthal harmonics has been shown to reduce the algorithmic complexity of a 3D explicit PIC algorithm to that of a 2D algorithm when the expansion is truncated while maintaining accuracy for problems with near azimuthal symmetry. This hybrid algorithm uses a PIC description in r–z and a gridless description in . We describe a novel method that combines the quasi-static and hybrid PIC methods. This algorithm expands the fields, charge and current density into azimuthal harmonics. A set of the quasi-static field equations is derived for each harmonic. The complex amplitudes of the fields are then solved using the finite difference method. The beam and plasma particles are advanced in Cartesian coordinates using the total fields. Details on how this algorithm was implemented using a similar workflow to an existing quasi-static code, QuickPIC, are presented. The new code is called QPAD for QuickPIC with Azimuthal Decomposition. Benchmarks and comparisons between a fully 3D explicit PIC code (OSIRIS), a full 3D quasi-static code (QuickPIC), and the new quasi-static PIC code with azimuthal decomposition (QPAD) are also presented.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗