Particle based PWFA simulations using a Discontinuous Galerkin approach

Abstract

We describe the application of a high order Discontinuous Galerkin method in the time domain for Plasma Wakefield Acceleration (PWFA) simulations. The method is characterized by very low numerical dispersion errors. Furthermore, it is explicit by construction and easily parallelizable. It provides a much better alternative for particle based simulations compared to the conventional FDTD method. In particular, in the context of the emerging PWFA technology this approach may lead to a substantial reduction of simulation times.