Simulating Coupling Complexity in Space Plasmas

Technology Research (ITR) grant, we are attempting to advance computational physics by developing a new class of computational code for plasmas and neu-tral gases that integrates multiple scales and multiple physical processes and descriptions. We are developing a highly modular, parallelized, scalable code that incorporates macroscopic scales and \microscales " by synthesizing initially three simulation technologies: 1) Computational °uid dynamics (hydrodynamics or magneto-hydrodynamics-MHD) for the large-scale plasma; 2) direct Monte Carlo simulation of atoms/neutral gas, and 3) transport code solvers to model highly energetic particle distributions. If the code development proceeds satis-factorily, we will also incorporate hybrid simulations for microscale structures and particle distributions. By synthesizing continuum and kinetic descriptions for plasmas and gases, we will provide a computational tool that will advance our understanding of the physics of neutral and charged gases enormously. Be-sides making major advances in basic plasma physics and neutral gas problems (e.g., reconnection, shock wave physics, etc.), this project will address 3 Gran