Aspherical PIC code (APIC) for modeling non-spherical dust in plasmas using shape-conforming coordinates

The 2D3V Aspherical Particle-in-Cell (APIC) code is developed for modeling of interactions of non-spherical dust grains with plasmas. It simulates the motion of plasma electrons and ions in a self-consistent electric field of plasma-screened charged dust particle. Due to absorption/recombination of plasma particles impinging on the grain surface, they transfer charge, momentum, angular momentum, as well as kinetic and binding energy, creating currents, forces, torques, and heat fluxes to the grain. The values of such physical parameters determine dust behavior in plasma, including its dynamics and ablation, and can be used in various plasma studies and applications, such as dusty plasmas, fusion devices, laboratory experiments, and astrophysical research. Obtaining these physical values for select non-spherical shapes of conducting dust grains is the main goal of the APIC code simulations.