Numerical Convergence in Solving the Vlasov Equation
Abstract
Description
When the Vlasov equation is investigated numerically using the method of test particles, the particle-particle interactions that inevitably arise in the simulation (but are not present in the Vlasov equation itself) result in an accumulation of errors which eventually drive the collection of test particles toward a state of classical thermal equilibrium. We estimate the rate at which these errors accumulate.
12 pages of text (Revtex). Two figures available from chrisj@phys.washington.edu
12 pages of text (Revtex). Two figures available from chrisj@phys.washington.edu