Stanek, Lucas J.; Hansen, Stephanie B.; Kononov, Alina K.; Cochrane, Kyle; Clay III, Raymond C.; Townsend, Joshua P.; Dumi, Amanda; Lentz, Meghan; Melton, Cody A.; Baczewski, Andrew D.; Knapp, Patrick F.; Haines, Brian M.; Hu, S.X.; Murillo, Michael S.; Stanton, Liam G.; Whitley, Heather D.; Baalrud, Scott D.; Babati, Lucas J.; Bethkenhagen, Mandy; Blanchet, Augustin; Collins, Lee A.; Faussurier, Gerald; French, Martin; Johnson, Zachary A.; Karasiev, Valentin V.; Kumar, Shashikant; Nichols, Katarina A.; Petrov, George M.; Recoules, Vanina; Redmer, Ronald; Ropke, Gerd; Schorner, Maximilian; Shaffer, Nathaniel R.; Sharma, Vidushi; Silvestri, Luciano G.; Soubiran, Francois; Suryanarayana, Phanish; Tacu, Mikael; White, Alexander J.
We report the results of the second charged-particle transport coefficient code comparison workshop, which was held in Livermore, California on 24-27 July 2023. This workshop gathered theoretical, computational, and experimental scientists to assess the state of computational and experimental techniques for understanding charged-particle transport coefficients relevant to high-energy-density plasma science. Data for electronic and ionic transport coefficients, namely, the direct current electrical conductivity, electron thermal conductivity, ion shear viscosity, and ion thermal conductivity were computed and compared for multiple plasma conditions. Additional comparisons were carried out for electron-ion properties such as the electron-ion equilibration time and alpha particle stopping power. Overall, 39 participants submitted calculated results from 18 independent approaches, spanning methods from parameterized semi-empirical models to time-dependent density functional theory. In the cases studied here, we find significant differences—several orders of magnitude—between approaches, particularly at lower temperatures, and smaller differences—roughly a factor of five—among first-principles models. We investigate the origins of these differences through comparisons of underlying predictions of ionic and electronic structure. The results of this workshop help to identify plasma conditions where computationally inexpensive approaches are accurate, where computationally expensive models are required, and where experimental measurements will have high impact.
For the cylindrically symmetric targets that are normally fielded on the Z machine, two dimensional axisymmetric MHD simulations provide the backbone of our target design capability. These simulations capture the essential operation of the target and allow for a wide range of physics to be addressed at a substantially lower computational cost than 3D simulations. This approach, however, makes some approximations that may impact its ability to accurately provide insight into target operation. As an example, in 2D simulations, targets are able to stagnate directly to the axis in a way that is not entirely physical, leading to uncertainty in the impact of the dynamical instabilities that are an important source of degradation for ICF concepts. In this report, we have performed a series of 3D calculations in order to assess the importance of this higher fidelity treatment on MagLIF target performance.
Real-time time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) is presently the most accurate available method for computing electronic stopping powers from first principles. However, obtaining application-relevant results often involves either costly averages over multiple calculations or ad hoc selection of a representative ion trajectory. We consider a broadly applicable, quantitative metric for evaluating and optimizing trajectories in this context. This methodology enables rigorous analysis of the failure modes of various common trajectory choices in crystalline materials. Although randomly selecting trajectories is common practice in stopping power calculations in solids, we show that nearly 30% of random trajectories in an FCC aluminum crystal will not representatively sample the material over the time and length scales feasibly simulated with TDDFT, and unrepresentative choices incur errors of up to 60%. We also show that finite-size effects depend on ion trajectory via “ouroboros” effects beyond the prevailing plasmon-based interpretation, and we propose a cost-reducing scheme to obtain converged results even when expensive core-electron contributions preclude large supercells. This work helps to mitigate poorly controlled approximations in first-principles stopping power calculations, allowing 1–2 order of magnitude cost reductions for obtaining representatively averaged and converged results.
Opacity-on-NIF has obtained opacity data under conditions similar to those achieved by the entirely different Opacity-on-Z platform. From low- and high-Z elements at different anchor points, rigorously compare the opacity data between the laboratories and to multiple opacity theory models. Compare and assess the data acquisition and processing methods for obtaining opacities and for measuring/inferring sample conditions. Explain, or develop hypotheses for, any discrepancies. Map progress to the National Opacity Strategy and define future directions.
Modern density functional theory (DFT) is a powerful tool for accurately predicting self-consistent material properties such as equations of state, transport coefficients and opacities in high energy density plasmas, but it is generally restricted to conditions of local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE) and produces only averaged electronic states instead of detailed configurations. We propose a simple modification to the bound-state occupation factor of a DFT-based average-atom model that captures essential non-LTE effects in plasmas—including autoionization and dielectronic recombination—thus extending DFT-based models to new regimes. Finally, we then expand the self-consistent electronic orbitals of the non-LTE DFT-AA model to generate multi-configuration electronic structure and detailed opacity spectra. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Dynamic and transient processes in warm dense matter’.
Simulations and diagnostics of high-energy-density plasmas and warm dense matter rely on models of material response properties, both static and dynamic (frequency-dependent). Here, we systematically investigate variations in dynamic electron-ion collision frequencies ν ( ω ) in warm dense matter using data from a self-consistent-field average-atom model. We show that including the full quantum density of states, strong collisions, and inelastic collisions lead to significant changes in ν ( ω ) . These changes result in red shifts and broadening of the plasmon peak in the dynamic structure factor, an effect observable in x-ray Thomson scattering spectra, and modify stopping powers around the Bragg peak. These changes improve the agreement of computationally efficient average-atom models with first-principles time-dependent density functional theory in warm dense aluminum, carbon, and deuterium.
We report on progress implementing and testing cryogenically cooled platforms for Magnetized Liner Inertial Fusion (MagLIF) experiments. Two cryogenically cooled experimental platforms were developed: an integrated platform fielded on the Z pulsed power generator that combines magnetization, laser preheat, and pulsed-power-driven fuel compression and a laser-only platform in a separate chamber that enables measurements of the laser preheat energy using shadowgraphy measurements. The laser-only experiments suggest that ∼89% ± 10% of the incident energy is coupled to the fuel in cooled targets across the energy range tested, significantly higher than previous warm experiments that achieved at most 67% coupling and in line with simulation predictions. The laser preheat configuration was applied to a cryogenically cooled integrated experiment that used a novel cryostat configuration that cooled the MagLIF liner from both ends. The integrated experiment, z3576, coupled 2.32 ± 0.25 kJ preheat energy to the fuel, the highest to-date, demonstrated excellent temperature control and nominal current delivery, and produced one of the highest pressure stagnations as determined by a Bayesian analysis of the data.
The interaction of an intense laser with a solid foil target can drive ∼ TV/m electric fields, accelerating ions to MeV energies. In this study, we experimentally observe that structured targets can dramatically enhance proton acceleration in the target normal sheath acceleration regime. At the Texas Petawatt Laser facility, we compared proton acceleration from a 1μm flat Ag foil, to a fixed microtube structure 3D printed on the front side of the same foil type. A pulse length (140–450 fs) and intensity ((4–10) × 10 20 W/cm2) study found an optimum laser configuration (140 fs, 4 × 10 20 W/cm2), in which microtube targets increase the proton cutoff energy by 50% and the yield of highly energetic protons (> 10 MeV) by a factor of 8×. When the laser intensity reaches 10 21 W/cm2, the prepulse shutters the microtubes with an overcritical plasma, damping their performance. 2D particle-in-cell simulations are performed, with and without the preplasma profile imported, to better understand the coupling of laser energy to the microtube targets. The simulations are in qualitative agreement with the experimental results, and show that the prepulse is necessary to account for when the laser intensity is sufficiently high.