A publication of the Advanced Simulation & Computing Division, NA-121.2, NNSA Defense Programs
December 2008
NA-ASC-500-08—Issue 9
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A New Warm-Dense-Matter Computational Modeling Development Announced
Sandia ASC-funded researchers are developing novel kinetic algorithms to study the equilibration, stopping power, and fusion reactivity of dense, radiating, burning multi-component, multi-species plasmas.
Fully relativistic, electromagnetic simulation of moderately-to-strongly coupled plasmas and warm-dense-matter makes use of nonlinear inter-particle potentials calculated by a scalable implicit field solver. Validation of the simulations, within the LSP particle-in-cell code framework, against two-component hypernetted chain models enable the study of fundamental physical properties of coupled plasmas, including electron-ion temperature equilibration, and slowing-down of energetic charged particles in dense plasmas. Other applications include the study of the impact of impurities on various thermodynamic properties in warm-dense-matter, thermonuclear burn, and mix.
These algorithms are being used to study Thermonuclear Burn Initiative physics at the microscopic level, with the goal of developing accurate sub-grid models of the relevant processes for use in continuum codes.
Implicit electromagnetic LSP simulation of a moderately coupled, 50 eV iron plasma at charge state 25. The ions are shown in red, the electrons in blue.
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