Astrophysical observations reveal that disorganised plasmas around compact objects produce coherent radiation. How orderly processes can arise from such conditions and give place to coherent dynamics still eludes us. Several mechanisms have been proposed to explain these phenomena. But so far have only been studied employing mathematical models or reduced kinetic simulations.
To explore these mechanisms, the study will exploit fully kinetic cutting-edge simulation techniques using the Particle-in-Cell (PIC) code OSIRIS. PIC simulations allow studying these processes at a fundamental level. To enable such detailed simulations, one requires large scale HPC systems.
In this manner, the project will reach more realistic conditions, e.g., using higher-dimensional simulations and including quantum electrodynamics (QED) effects, which have not been studied and are essential to bridge the gap between the theoretical models and the actual processes underlying coherent emission.
The project's team aimx at removing the assumptions present in previous studies and consider phenomena that have been previously unaccounted for. By furthering the understanding from a fundamental perspective, the project will shed light on the astrophysical observations and design laboratory experiments to study such processes.
Instituto Superior Tecnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal