Jason Tenbarge

We present a novel algorithm for the numerical solution of the multi-species, non-relativistic, Vlasov-Maxwell system in the Gkeyll simulation framework, which uses high order discontinuous Galerkin finite elements to discretize the system on an upto a 3D-3V phase space grid. The resulting numerical method is robust and retains a number of important properties of the continuous system, such as conservation of mass and energy, yet the method is computationally efficient and performs well at scale on cutting edge high performance computational resources. We leverage the pristine phase space representation made possible by directly discretizing phase space to examine energy dissipation in a variety of systems relevant to space and astrophysical plasmas. Specifically, we employ the field-particle correlation technique and Fourier-Hermite decomposition in phase space to directly diagnose the exchange of energy between fields and particles and the flow of energy in phase space. We present results from a variety of simple systems, including magnetic pumping, resonant wave damping, and Langmuir turbulence, and we also apply the field-particle correlation technique to 2D-3V Vlasov-Maxwell simulations of reconnection and turbulence.