Development of Object-oriented PIC Code for Simulation of Plasma Flow Around a Satellite in Solar Corona

Abstract

This paper introduces a new plasma-surface interaction simulation program called Solar Corona – Spacecraft Interaction (SCSI). The program's main focus is to keep modularity and generality in its implementation. For this purpose, SCSI was programmed with an object-oriented approach, composed of a set of numerical methods organised in classes and a main file that connects them in order for the simulation to run. The program also contains a system of embedded meshes. These meshes run almost independently and allow the user to execute different numerical methods in different regions of the domain. The program is tested by simulating the interaction of a satellite with the solar wind at a distance of 8.5 R from the surface of the Sun. Results exhibited good agreement between SCSI and previous codes and demonstrated the capability of the program to capture the main physical phenomena present in plasma-surface systems.