CELEST1D - AN IMPLICIT, FULLY KINETIC-MODEL FOR LOW-FREQUENCY, ELECTROMAGNETIC PLASMA SIMULATION

An implicit, one-dimensional, fully-electromagnetic particle simulation code (CELEST1D) is presented in which both electrons and ions are treated kinetically using finite-size particles. The implicit time-advanced field equations are cast in a form convenient for Gaussian elimination, and the field equations are solved directly for arbitrary time steps without iteration. CELEST1D has been tested on a number of standard problems, and the results are similar to those obtained by existing one-dimensional electromagnetic particle and hybrid codes. Results from the simulations of the electrostatic two-stream instability, of the electrostatic sheath-plasma oscillation, and of the electromagnetic, low-density ion-beam instability are presented.