Loading a relativistic kappa distribution in particle simulations

Abstract

A procedure for loading particle velocities from a relativistic kappa distribution in particle-in-cell (PIC) and Monte Carlo simulations is presented. It is based on the rejection method and the beta prime distribution. The rejection part extends earlier method for the Maxwell-Juttner distribution, and then the acceptance rate reaches ~95%. Utilizing the generalized beta prime distributions, we successfully reproduce the relativistic kappa distribution, including the power-law tail. The derivation of the procedure, mathematical preparations, comparison with other procedures, and numerical tests are presented.

Comments: 33 pages 11 figures; to appear in Physics of Plasmas