Summary form only given. Time-advance algorithms based on Hamilton's variational principle are being developed for application to problems in plasma physics. The numerical solution of systems of ordinary differential equations via Hamilton's principle has been addressed in the present work. The basic idea is first to choose a class of functions for approximating the solution of the ordinary differential equations over a specific time interval. Then the parameters in the approximating function are determined by applying Hamilton's principle exactly within the class of approximating functions. The issue of how to choose time-advance algorithms is very important for achieving efficient, physically meaningful computer simulations. The objective here is to reliably simulate those characteristics of an evolving system which are scientifically most relevant.
展开▼
