PTetra, a Tool to Simulate Low Orbit Satellite–Plasma Interaction

Abstract

A model is presented to numerically simulate the time-dependent interaction of satellites with space plasma. The approach is based on a fully kinetic description of the plasma using particle in cell modeling for all plasma species with physical charges and masses. The model also relies on a discretization of space with an unstructured tetrahedral mesh that is capable of representing complex boundaries and realistic spacecraft geometries. The code solves for the self-consistent electric fields, given calculated volume charges and charge deposition on the various satellite components. The model is purely electrostatic, but it does account for the effects of a possible constant and uniform background magnetic field.