A non-periodic 2D semi-Lagrangian Vlasov code for laser-plasma interaction on parallel computer

For the first time, a 2D electromagnetic and relativistic semi-Lagrangian Vlasov model for a multi-computer environment was developed to study the laser-plasma interaction in an open system. Numerical simulations are presented for situations relevant to the penetration of an ultra-intense laser pulse inside a moderately overdense plasma and the relativistic filamentation instability in the case of an underdense plasma. The Vlasov model revealed a rich variety of phenomena associated with the fast particle dynamics induced by the laser pulse as particle trapping, particle acceleration and relativistic self-induced transparency in overdense plasma. Attention was focused on the efficiency and stability properties on the numerical scheme and implementation facilities on massively parallel computers. Success of the semi-Lagrangian Vlasov model is enhanced by the good conservation of the continuity equation and stability of Maxwell system due to the fine description of the electron distribution function and particularly of the charge density and current density. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.