3D Particle-In-Cell study of the Electron Drift Instability in a E×B discharge

[willcavillafana]

Hi everyone,

I have recently graduated from CERFACS, Toulouse, France and I will be a working soon as a postodoc at PPPL in Dr. Kaganovich’s group. My poster is about last 3D PIC simulations I could perform at the end of my PhD in which I was able to observe the EDI and other 3D effects.

If you have any questions or comments, I will gladly answer them.
Best,
Willca

[eahedo]

Hi, Willca,
Congratulations for this postdoc at PPPL and for these impressive computations.
Are you able to characterize somehow the macroscopic turbulent force acting on the electrons?

[willcavillafana]

Dear Eduardo thank your positive comment, I highly appreciate it.

I guess you are referring to the effect of the EDI on the electron transport. If that’s so, yes I have been able to measure the mobility predicted by Lafleur et al. (theta assumes in a collisionless case mu_ano=. <delta_ne delta_Ey>/(neBrEx) ) and I compared it to the observed mobility (mu=vex/Ex). I found a good agreement between both profiles, which suggests the EDI plays an important factor in anomalous transport.
In my simulation I was also able to see recirculation zones in the plume that somehow seems related to the spherical-like waves in the plume. This was a very interesting feature but I could not explain it fully so far. It would be certainly interesting to investigate forward in this direction.
With Laplace laboratory we are working on a similar 3D setup and we’ll try to answer these questions as well and make progress.
Since you have a lot of experience with your 2D radial-axial code, perhaps would you also have particular diagnostics you’d find relevant?

Finally, as I mentioned in a separate communication with Mario, I will submit soon a paper on my present work and I will share it with you as soon as possible.

Best,
Willca

[eahedo]

Willca, thank you for the answer. We are very interested in any advance on characterizing the macroscopic turbulent force, that could be implemented in our hybrid model. We will follow closely your research.