Dynamic constraint enforcement in plasma environments
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Date
2011-08-23
Authors
Barriault, Michael
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Guelph
Abstract
In certain plasma environments, such as that surrounding a pulsar, the electric and magnetic fields align orthogonally. In this document we discuss and derive several constraints, of particular importance the force free constraint found in certain plasma environments. We introduce Maxwell’s equations in a covariant, coordinate-free form. We showcase methods to enforce this constraint, first with a straightforward method then by a new, dynamical method. Finally we compare and contrast the two methods in an approximation of a small region above a pulsar.
Description
Thesis to fulfill requirements for the Master of Science degree.
Keywords
electromagnetism, astrophysics, numerical analysis, computer science, differential equations