Ergodic Orbits in Particle Simulations of Strong Ion Rings.
Abstract
The existence of ergodic orbits in magnetostatic simulations of strong ion rings is demonstrated. For nonlinear 2D3V simulations with axisymmetry the principal manifestation of such orbits is an eventual violation of left-right mirror symmetry in cases where such symmetry would normally be expected, due to the exponential divergence of 'neighboring' mirror image trajectories. Linearized simulations, in effect, compute the first order separation of orbits which are displaced from each other by an infinitesimal vector for all time. When a linearized code is applied to a problem involving ergodic orbits, the single-particle growth can be faster than that associated with the collective modes of interest, rendering the simulation invalid. This may severely limit the class of problems for which linearized simulation is applicable. Similar effects are expected in simulations of other systems, including field-reversed mirror equilibria with large nominal gyroradii. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 28, 1979
- Accession Number
- ADA081391
Entities
People
- A. Friedman
Organizations
- University of California, Berkeley