A simple solver for the two-fluid plasma model based on PseudoSpectral Time-Domain algorithm

TL;DR

This paper introduces a straightforward 3D two-fluid plasma model solver using a PseudoSpectral Time-Domain method, combining finite difference schemes and FFTs for efficient simulation of laser-plasma interactions.

Contribution

The paper presents a novel, simple, and efficient solver for the two-fluid plasma model that integrates PSTD with composite schemes and avoids staggered grids.

Findings

Results agree with analytical solutions

Solver accurately models laser-plasma interactions

Efficient implementation with FFTs and finite differences

Abstract

We present a solver of 3D two-fluid plasma model for the simulation of short-pulse laser interactions with plasma. This solver resolves the equations of the two-fluid plasma model with ideal gas closure. We also include the Bhatnagar-Gross-Krook collision model. Our solver is based on PseudoSpectral Time-Domain (PSTD) method to solve Maxwell's curl equations. We use a Strang splitting to integrate Euler equations with source term: while Euler equations are solved with a composite scheme mixing Lax-Friedrichs and Lax-Wendroff schemes, the source term is integrated with a fourth-order Runge-Kutta scheme. This two-fluid plasma model solver is simple to implement because it only relies on finite difference schemes and Fast Fourier Transforms. It does not require spatially staggered grids. The solver was tested against several well-known problems of plasma physics. Numerical simulations gave results in excellent agreement with analytical solutions or with previous results from the literature.