Vlasov-Fokker-Planck modelling of igniting plasmas using FKburn, a new kinetic code for ICF physics.

We present FKburn (Fully Kinetic code for simulation of fusion burn), an implicit, parallel, 1D2V, multi-species, Vlasov-Fokker-Planck solver for modelling the onset and propagation of fusion burn within imploded ICF targets. Alongside the plasma ions and fusion products, FKburn retains a kinetic description of the plasma electrons, permitting burn-relevant kinetic electron phenomena to be captured. Distinct velocity grids are employed to house each species, with a scheme presented to couple distributions between grids. Preliminary simulations of radial burn propagation are presented. A module for large-angle Coulomb collisions is discussed, implemented using a 3^rd order extension to the conventional Rosenbluth-Fokker-Planck operator to provide a more accurate description of the moderately-coupled nature of ICF plasmas.