2024/05/22 by Adam Fraser, A. J. Crilly, Fraser, Adam R. +11
Decision Sciences · Physics and Astronomy · #Atomic Physics (physics.atom-ph) #Computational Physics (physics.comp-ph) #FOS: Physical sciences #Materials Science (cond-mat.mtrl-sci) #Plasma Physics (physics.plasm-ph) #Radioactive Decay and Measurement Techniques #Scientific Measurement and Uncertainty Evaluation #Statistical Mechanics (cond-mat.stat-mech)
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.2405.13814
openalex publication_date 2024/05/22 · openalex created_date 2024/05/26 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
Global microphysics models are required for the modelling of high-energy-density physics (HEDP) experiments, the improvement of which are critical to the path to inertial fusion energy. This work presents further developments to the atomic and microphysics code, SpK, part of the numerical modelling suite of Imperial College London and First Light Fusion. We extend the capabilities of SpK to allow the calculation of the equation of state (EoS). The detailed configuration accounting calculations are interpolated into finite-temperature Thomas-Fermi calculations at high coupling to form the electronic component of the model. The Cowan model provides the ionic contribution, modified to approximate the physics of diatomic molecular dissociation. By utilising bonding corrections and performing a Maxwell construction, SpK captures the EoS from states ranging from the zero-pressure solid, through the liquid-vapour coexistence region and into plasma states. This global approach offers the benefit of capturing electronic shell structure over large regions of parameter space, building highly-resolved tables in minutes on a simple desktop. We present shock Hugoniot and off-Hugoniot calculations for a number of materials, comparing SpK to other models and experimental data. We also apply EoS and opacity data generated by SpK in integrated simulations of indirectly-driven capsule implosions, highlighting physical sensitivities to the choice of EoS models.