Dense plasma opacity via the multiple-scattering method

Journal Article · 05 January 2022 · Physical Review. E

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/physreve.105.015203 · OSTI ID:1990109

Shaffer, Nathaniel Ray  ^[1]; Starrett, Charles Edward  ^[2]

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1. Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States); Univ. of Rochester, NY (United States). Lab. for Laser Energetics
2. Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)

The calculation of the optical properties of hot dense plasmas with a model that has self-consistent plasma physics is a grand challenge for high energy density science. Here we exploit a recently developed electronic structure model that uses multiple scattering theory to solve the Kohn-Sham density functional theory equations for dense plasmas. Here we calculate opacities in this regime, validate the method, and apply it to recent experimental measurements of opacity for Cr, Ni, and Fe. Good agreement is found in the quasicontinuum region for Cr and Ni, while the self-consistent plasma physics of the approach cannot explain the observed difference between models and the experiment for Fe.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
• Grant/Contract Number: 89233218CNA000001; AC52-06NA25396
• OSTI ID: 1990109
• Report Number(s): LA-UR-21-29199
• Journal Information: Physical Review. E, Journal Name: Physical Review. E Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 105; ISSN 2470-0045
• Publisher: American Physical Society (APS)Copyright Statement
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English