AN EULERIAN CODE FOR THE STUDY OF THE DRIFT-KINETIC VLASOV EQUATION

An Eulerian code is developed to study the drift-kinetic Vlasov equation in a strong magnetic field. This is of interest in relation to studies on the E × B instabilities, as, for instance, the hydrodynamical Kelvin-Helmholtz (KH) instabilities and the ion temperature gradient instability. We investigate the nonlinear behavior of nonneutral plasma involving the formation and growth of vortices as a result of a velocity shear introduced by a nonuniform E × B drift. In particular the linear growth rates of KH instabilities have been calculated numerically and are shown to be in very good agreement with analytical theory. Preliminary results obtained for the ion temperature gradient instability are also presented. © 1993 Academic Press, Inc.