Impact of New Transport Coefficients on Modeling NIF Experiments

The extreme conditions created at the National Ignition Facility (NIF) probe the warm dense matter regime where quantum degeneracy and strongly coupled plasma effects can become important. When numerically modeling such experiments, it becomes a challenge to accurately model the wide range of parameters exhibited by the imploding plasmas. In this presentation, the adoption of new plasma transport coefficients in the Ares multiphysics code will be discussed. In particular, a new quantum Lenard-Balescu electron-ion coupling model [Scullard Phys. Rev. E 97, 013205 (2018)] and a hybrid plasma viscosity model [Stanton Phys. Rev. E 93, 043203 (2016); Murillo High Energ. Dens. Phys. 4, 49 (2008)] have recently been implemented. The impact of these models will be discussed in the context of a polar-direct-drive exploding pusher platform and more conventional indirect-drive platforms. The importance of the new models will be quantified both in terms of the relative change of the transport coefficients themselves and in differences incurred in the simulated target performance, such as yield.
LLNL-ABS-753908