This research topic in applied physics and mathematics focuses on the development and application of advanced numerical methods and physical models applied to plasma dynamics for conditions relevant to various applications of interest to the Air Force, particularly electric propulsion systems. Physical regimes range from rarefied plasma to ideal MHD, weakly to fully ionized, and with temperatures up to 100 eV. We are particularly interested in multiscale methods, hybrid methods, and innovative mathematical and numerical approaches to solving plasma kinetics. Fluid (MHD) and multi-fluid models, collisional-radiative (CR) kinetics, particle-in-cell (PIC), and Monte-Carlo collisions (MCC) methods are of typical interests, as well as Vlasov/Fokker-Planck approaches and their combination.

References

Brackbill I, et al: Numerical Analysis of Neutral Entrainment Effect on Field-Reversed Configuration Thruster Efficiency, Journal of Propulsion and Power 30(6): 1450-1458, 2014

Shumlak R, et al: Advanced physics calculations using a multi-fluid plasma model. Computer Physic Communications, Special Edition for Conference on Computational Physics 182(9): 1767-1770, 2011