Verification of a Configuration Space Method for Evaluating the All-Orders Linear Kinetic Plasma Response to RF Power

Abstract

Progress towards verification of a configuration space algorithm for evaluating the linear kinetic plasma current response to applied radio-frequency power is presented. This follows a previously published [1] verification of the parallel-only response, by verifying the perpendicular response required for much of the ion-and electron-cyclotron range of frequencies. In particular, we use the Colestock-Kashuba fast-wave to ion-Bernstein-wave benchmark [2] where we show that the Kinetic-J computational kernel is able to reproduce a known reference solution calculated via the AORSA full-wave code [3]. We also discuss the computational and scaling aspects of this novel approach, as well as the difficulties presented by the temporal scales in this multi-species problem.