Dispersive Dielectric Modeling in Particle-in-Cell Simulations

Particle-in-Cell (PIC) simulations have been a primary tool for computational modeling of plasmas interacting with electromagnetic fields for decades given their ability to simulate such systems dynamically in time. As a tool for use in modeling ionized plasma, such codes do not often include dispersive media models common in Finite-Difference Time-Domain codes. We present work including frequency dependent dielectric material in PIC simulations, including dispersive media and free electron and ion particles in the same simulation, self-consistently. This work provides a powerful simulation tool for modeling plasmonic and photonic systems, building upon previous work[1], while being useful up to temperatures reaching partially ionized matter. Use of the method offers prospects for modeling pre-pulse formation, propagation of intense lasers in media, and other problems relevant phenomena for intense laser-plasma interactions.

[1] Do, Hue Thi Bich, et al. Electron dynamics in plasmons." Nanoscale 13.5 (2021): 2801-2810.