Fully kinetic simulations of strong steady-state collisional planar plasma shocks

Abstract

We report on the first steady-state simulations of strong plasma shocks with fully kinetic ions and electrons, independently confirmed by two fully kinetic codes (an Eulerian continuum and a Lagrangian particle-in-cell). While kinetic electrons do not fundamentally change the shock structure as compared with fluid electrons, we find an appreciable rearrangement of the preheat layer, associated with nonlocal electron heat transport effects. The electron heat flux profile qualitatively agrees between kinetic and fluid electron models, suggesting a certain level of "stiffness", though substantial nonlocality is observed in the kinetic heat flux. We also find good agreement with nonlocal electron heat-flux closures proposed in the literature. Finally, in contrast to the classical hydrodynamic picture, we find a significant collapse in the "precursor" electric-field shock at the preheat layer edge, which correlates with the electron-temperature gradient relaxation.