AWECS:A Linear Gyrokinetic df Particle-in-Cell Simulation Code for the Study of Alfvenic Instabilities in High-β Tokamak Plasmas

A 1-Dlinear gyrokinetic code called AWECS is developed to study the kinetic excitation of Alfvenic instabilities in a high-β tokamak plasma,with β being the ratio of thermal to magnetic pressure.It is designed to describe physics associated with a broad range of frequencies and wavelengths.For example,AWECS is capable of simulating kinetic ballooning modes,Alfvenic ion-temperature-gradient-driven modes,as well as Alfven instabilities due to energetic particles.In addition,AWECS may be used to study drift-Alfven instabilities in the low-β regime.Here,the layout of the code and the numerical methods used are described.AWECS is benchmarked against other codes and a convergence study is carried out.