Abstract

A parallelized three-dimensional self-consistent electrostatic particle-in-cell (PIC) code using unstructured tetrahedral mesh is proposed. Parallel implementation of the current unstructured PIC-FEM code is realized on distributed-memory PC-cluster system utilizing dynamic domain decomposition. Completed code is verified by simulating a quasi-1D RF argon gas discharge with results comparable to previous experimental observations and simulations. Parallel performance with dynamic domain decomposition of the PIC code is tested using a 3D RF argon gas discharge on a PC-cluster system. Results show that parallel efficiency can achieve 83% at 32 processors with dynamic domain decomposition. Some possible improvement of the code performance is demonstrated. Completed code is then applied to predict field emission without and with space-charge effect, and to simulate the RF magnetron argon plasma to demonstrate its capability in handling practical problems.

Keywords: Particle-in-cell; Finite element; Tetrahedral mesh; Parallel implementation; Dynamic domain decomposition

Article Outline

1. Introduction

2. Parallel PIC-FEM using tetrahedral mesh

2.1. PIC-FEM on unstructured mesh

2.2. Parallel implementation with dynamic domain decomposition

2.2.1. Parallel implementation

2.2.2. Dynamic domain decomposition

3. Results and discussion

3.1. Verifications

3.1.1. Quasi-1D RF gas discharge

3.2. Code performance study

3.2.1. Performance of PIC-FEM code

3.3. Possible improvements

3.4. Applications

3.4.1. Field emission prediction

Without space-charged effect.

With space-charged effect.

3.4.2. RF magnetron plasma simulation

4. Summary

Acknowledgements

References