PlasmaPy for HEDP Regime

POSTER

Abstract

PlasmaPy is a Python package being developed to foster an open source software ecosystem focused around plasma physics research and education. The high-energy-density (HED) physics regime refers to systems with an energy density \textgreater 1 Mbar or 10\textasciicircum 6 atm. In this regime, plasmas behave differently from ideal plasmas and require additional functionality to describe them. For example, ionization, magnetic fields, and relativity can be important in this regime. I am tasked with adding functionality to PlasmaPy that is relevant to HED plasma physics. One example is the Saha equation: which estimates the ratio of ions of a plasma in one ionization state to those in another. This becomes more accurate in the HED regime.

Authors

  • Khalil Bryant

    Univ of Michigan - Ann Arbor

  • C.C. Kuranz

    University of Michigan, Univ of Michigan - Ann Arbor, U. of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Nuclear Engineering \& Radiological Sciences Department, University of Michigan

  • Dominik Stańczak

    University of Warsaw, Institute of Plasma Physics and Laser Microfusion, Warsaw, Poland

  • Erik Everson

    UCLA, University of California, Los Angeles

  • Nicholas Murphy

    Harvard University, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, CfA, SAO, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory