Global particle-in-cell simulations of Alfvénic modes

Global linear gyrokinetic particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations of electromagnetic modes in pinch and tokamak geometries are reported. The global Alfvén eigenmode, the mirror Alfvén eigenmode, the toroidal Alfvén eigenmode, and the kinetic ballooning modes have been simulated. All plasma species have been treated kinetically (i.e., no hybrid fluid-kinetic or reduced-kinetic model has been applied). The main intention of the paper is to demonstrate that the global Alfvén modes can be treated with the gyrokinetic PIC method.