A finite-volume particle-in-cell method for the numerical treatment of Maxwell-Lorentz equations on boundary-fitted meshes

A new conceptual framework solving numerically the time-dependent Maxwell-L orentz equations on a non-rectangular quadrilateral mesh in two space dimen sions is presented. Beyond a short review of the applied particle treatment based on the particle-in-cell method, a finite-volume scheme for the numer ical approximation of the Maxwell equations is introduced using non-rectang ular quadrilateral grid arrangements; The coupling of a high-resolution FV Maxwell solver with the PIC method isa new approach in the context of self- consistent charged particle simulation in electromagnetic fields. Furthermo re, first simulation results of the time-dependent behaviour of an external ly applied-B ion diode developed at the Forschungszentrum in Karlsruhe are presented. Copyright (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.