Efficient charged particle propagation methods

TL;DR

This paper compares various numerical methods for simulating ultra-high-energy cosmic ray propagation in intergalactic magnetic fields, highlighting their accuracy and computational efficiency.

Contribution

It provides a systematic comparison of different simulation approaches, identifying their convergence properties and computational requirements.

Findings

All methods accurately reproduce diffusive behavior.

Significant differences in simulation time requirements.

Convergence criteria vary among methods.

Abstract

In astrophysics, the search for sources of the highest-energy cosmic rays continues. For further progress, not only ever better observatories but also ever more realistic numerical simulations are needed. We compare different approaches for numerical test simulations of UHECRs in the IGMF and show that all methods provide correct statistical propagation characteristics of the particles in means of their diffusive behaviour. Through convergence tests, we show that the necessary requirements for the methods differ and ultimately reveal significant differences in the required simulation time.