Superparticle Method for Simulating Collisions. (arXiv:2004.06779v1 [astro-ph.EP])
<a href="http://arxiv.org/find/astro-ph/1/au:+Nesvorny_D/0/1/0/all/0/1">David Nesvorny</a>, <a href="http://arxiv.org/find/astro-ph/1/au:+Youdin_A/0/1/0/all/0/1">Andrew N. Youdin</a>, <a href="http://arxiv.org/find/astro-ph/1/au:+Marschall_R/0/1/0/all/0/1">Raphael Marschall</a>, <a href="http://arxiv.org/find/astro-ph/1/au:+Richardson_D/0/1/0/all/0/1">Derek C. Richardson</a>
For problems in astrophysics, planetary science and beyond, numerical
simulations are often limited to simulating fewer particles than in the real
system. To model collisions, the simulated particles (aka superparticles) need
to be inflated to represent a collectively large collisional cross section of
real particles. Here we develop a superparticle-based method that replicates
the kinetic energy loss during real-world collisions, implement it in an
$N$-body code and test it. The tests provide interesting insights into dynamics
of self gravitating collisional systems. They show how particle systems evolve
over several free fall timescales to form central concentrations and
equilibrated outer shells. The superparticle method can be extended to account
for the accretional growth of objects during inelastic mergers.
For problems in astrophysics, planetary science and beyond, numerical
simulations are often limited to simulating fewer particles than in the real
system. To model collisions, the simulated particles (aka superparticles) need
to be inflated to represent a collectively large collisional cross section of
real particles. Here we develop a superparticle-based method that replicates
the kinetic energy loss during real-world collisions, implement it in an
$N$-body code and test it. The tests provide interesting insights into dynamics
of self gravitating collisional systems. They show how particle systems evolve
over several free fall timescales to form central concentrations and
equilibrated outer shells. The superparticle method can be extended to account
for the accretional growth of objects during inelastic mergers.
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