Particle-in-cell simulations of electron spin effects in plasmas

Abstract

We present a particle-in-cell code accounting for the magnetic dipole force and for the magnetization currents associated with the electron spin. The electrons are divided into spin-up and spin-down populations relative to the magnetic field, where the magnetic dipole force acts in opposite directions for the two species. To validate the code, we study wakefield generation by an electromagnetic pulse propagating parallel to an external magnetic field. The properties of the generated wakefield are shown to be in good agreement with previous theoretical results. Generalizations of the code to account for other quantum effects are discussed.