A hybrid Vlasov-fluid model with kinetic ions and massless fluid electrons

Two-and three-dimensional models were developed with kinetic ions and massless fluid electrons. The use of fluid electrons allows the elimination of the electric field so that it never has to be solved for. A Vlasov equation is then derived for the particle ions and the linear dispersion relation is obtained from it. The results are compared from this theory with simulation results; excellent agreement is found. The model exhibits Alfven waves, ion cyclotron waves, low frequency whistler waves and ion Bernstein waves. The model was used to simulate instabilities such as might be caused by the injection of an energetic neutral beam into the plasma. A two time step correction technique was implemented into code which improves energy conservation by a factor of 10(3) and allows the use of time steps which are an order of magnitude larger.