Global particle-in-cell simulations of Alfvenic modes

Global linear gyrokinetic particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations of electromagnetic modes in pinch and tokamak geometries are reported. The global Alfven eigenmode, the mirror Alfven eigenmode, the toroidal Alfven eigenmode, and the kinetic ballooning modes have been simulated. All plasma species have been treated kinetically (i.e., no hybrid fluid-kinetic or reduced-kinetic model has been applied). The main intention of the paper is to demonstrate that the global Alfven modes can be treated with the gyrokinetic PIC method.