Particle-in-cell
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Particle-In-Cell (PIC) is an algorithm to compute (for example) the trajectories of charged particles in an electromagnetic field. The field is computed in a grid of cells, and the force on the particles is interpolated from the fields on the grid. The action of the moving charged particles is taken into account by integrating the convection current caused by the moving charges.
The particle-in-cell algorithm is derived from the Lagrangian and Eulerian formulations of mechanics, but is not subjected to the same limitations. L. Moresi developed the computer program "Ellipsis" to consider 2-dimensional PIC finite element code. The code has been extended to 3-dimensions for use in various modeling applications including plate tectonics.Template:Physics-stub