A Multi Level Multi Domain Method for Particle In Cell Plasma Simulations

A novel adaptive technique for electromagnetic Particle In Cell (PIC) plasma simulations is presented here. Two main issues are identified in designing adaptive techniques for PIC simulation: first, the choice of the size of the particle shape function in progressively refined grids, with the need to avoid the exertion of self-forces on particles, and, second, the necessity to comply with the strict stability constraints of the explicit PIC algorithm. The adaptive implementation presented responds to these demands with the introduction of a Multi Level Multi Domain (MLMD) system (where a cloud of self-similar domains is fully simulated with both fields and particles) and the use of an Implicit Moment PIC method as baseline algorithm for the adaptive evolution. Information is exchanged between the levels with the projection of the field information from the refined to the coarser levels and the interpolation of the boundary conditions for the refined levels from the coarser level fields. Particles are bound to their level of origin and are prevented from transitioning to coarser levels, but are repopulated at the refined grid boundaries with a splitting technique. The presented algorithm is tested against a series of simulation challenges

Computational fluid dynamics

An overview of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) activities at the Langley Research Center is given. The role of supercomputers in CFD research, algorithm development, multigrid approaches to computational fluid flows, aerodynamics computer programs, computational grid generation, turbulence research, and studies of rarefied gas flows are among the topics that are briefly surveyed

Antenna near-field wave studies in magnetized plasmas as part of the optimization of auxiliary heating in fusion devicesAntenna near-field wave studies in magnetized plasmas as part of the optimization of auxiliary heating in fusion devices

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De l’exosphère à la magnétosphère des objets planétaires faiblement magnétisés : optimisation de modélisations parallélisées pour une application à Ganymède

Jupiter’s moon Ganymede is the biggest and most massive satellite of our solar system. Thisobject has been observed from the Earth, with the Hubble Space Telescope (HST), and through in situ measurements by Galileo spacecraft. Thanks to these observations, a very tenuous atmosphere, or exosphere, has been detected at Ganymede. It is mainly composed of atomic hydrogen, atomic oxygen, and molecular oxygen. Ganymede is the only moon of the solar system to have its own intrinsic magnetic field, which generates a minimagnetosphere interacting with the magnetospheric jovian plasma. This magnetosphere is embedded in the jovian magnetosphere. It is the only known case of interaction between two magnetospheres. Galileo is the only mission that has investigated the complex ionized environment of Ganymede. The next space mission dedicated to investigate the Jovian magnetosphere and its galilean satellite is an European mission from ESA : JUICE (Jupiter ICy moons Explorer). In the frame of this mission, and to prepare future observations at Ganymede, my thesis work has consisted in modeling the global neutral and ionized environment of Ganymede. The first part of my thesis work has been dedicated to the study of Ganymede’s exosphere with a 3D Monte-Carlo model. I have parallelized this model to improve its performance and to enrich the physics described by the model. Results have been compared to those of other models, and to HST and Galileo observations. The ionized environment, in particular the magnetosphere of Ganymede, has then been studied with a 3D parallel hybrid model,considering the observation conditions of Galileo. Results are globally consistent with the observations and with other models, but show the necessity to significantly improve the spatial resolution. Therefore, a significant part of my work has been dedicated to the development of a multi-grid approach in the hybrid model, to divide by 2 the spatial resolution at the vicinity of Ganymede. Finally, results obtained with the optimized model are compared to Galileo observations.Ganymède, une lune de Jupiter, est le plus grand et le plus massif des satellites de notre système solaire. Cet objet a été observé depuis la Terre, notamment grâce au télescope Hubble (HST), et in situ par la sonde Galileo. Grâce à ces observations, une atmosphère très ténue, ou exosphère,principalement composée d'hydrogène, d'oxygène et d'oxygène moléculaire, a été détectée au voisinage de Ganymède. Ganymède est l'unique lune du système solaire possédant son propre champ magnétique intrinsèque, qui, en interagissant avec le plasma magnétosphérique jovien, génère unemini-magnétosphère. Cette magnétosphère est imbriquée dans celle de Jupiter. C'est le seul cas connu d'interaction entre deux magnétosphères. Galileo est l'une des seules sondes spatiales ayant investigué l'environnement complexe de Ganymède. La prochaine mission spatiale qui étudiera ce satellite estune mission européenne de l'ESA : JUICE (JUpiter ICy moon Exploration). Dans le cadre de cette mission, et dans un but de mieux connaître ce satellite, mon travail de thèse a consisté à modéliser l'environnement global neutre et ionisé de Ganymède.La première partie de mon travail de thèse a été consacrée à l'étude de l'exosphère de Ganymède à l'aide d'un modèle 3D Monte-Carlo. J'ai parallélisé ce modèle afin d'améliorer ses performances et d'enrichir la physique décrite par le modèle. Les résultats sont comparés à ceux d'autres modèles, ainsi que les observations effectuées par le HST et Galileo. L'environnement ionisé, en particulier la magnétosphère de Ganymède, a été ensuite étudié à l'aide d'un modèle hybride parallèle 3D, notamment en se plaçant dans les conditions d'observations de Ganymède par Galileo. Les résultats sont globalement cohérents avec les observations, et concordent avec ceux d'autres modèles, maismontrent néanmoins une nécessité d'améliorer significativement la résolution spatiale du modèle. De ce fait, une partie significative de mon travail de thèse a été dédiée au développement et à l'implémentation d'une approche multi-grilles au sein du modèle hybride, pour améliorer la résolution spatiale d'un facteur 2 dans le voisinage proche du satellite. Enfin, les résultats obtenus avec ce modèle optimisé sont confrontés aux observations de Galileo

Final report on the Copper Mountain conference on multigrid methods

The Copper Mountain Conference on Multigrid Methods was held on April 6-11, 1997. It took the same format used in the previous Copper Mountain Conferences on Multigrid Method conferences. Over 87 mathematicians from all over the world attended the meeting. 56 half-hour talks on current research topics were presented. Talks with similar content were organized into sessions. Session topics included: fluids; domain decomposition; iterative methods; basics; adaptive methods; non-linear filtering; CFD; applications; transport; algebraic solvers; supercomputing; and student paper winners

Computational methods and software systems for dynamics and control of large space structures

Two key areas of crucial importance to the computer-based simulation of large space structures are discussed. The first area involves multibody dynamics (MBD) of flexible space structures, with applications directed to deployment, construction, and maneuvering. The second area deals with advanced software systems, with emphasis on parallel processing. The latest research thrust in the second area involves massively parallel computers