Work

Collisional stopping power of ions in warm dense matter

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: A model for the collisional stopping of ions on free electrons in warm dense matter is developed and explored. It is based on plasma kinetic theory, but with modifications to address the warm dense matter regime. Specifically, it uses the Boltzmann-Uehling-Uhlenbeck kinetic equation to incorporate effects of Fermi degeneracy of electrons. The cross section is computed from quantum scattering of electrons and ions occuring via the potential of mean force derived from an average atom model, which incorporates effects of strong Coulomb correlations. Predictions from this model show comparable accuracy to results from time-dependent density functional theory calculations for deuterium near solid density and a temperature of several electronvolts, at a fraction of the computational cost. Further, the model captures the transition of a plasma from the classical limit to the degenerate limit, including qualitative behaviors of solid state theory.

Source: Physical review. E

DOI: 10.1103/bf9c-5kzq

Authors: Lucas J. Babati, Shane Rightley, Nathaniel R. Shaffer, Scott D. Baalrud

Institutions: University of Michigan, Sandia National Laboratories California, Sandia National Laboratories, University of Rochester

Language: English

Topic: Laser-Plasma Interactions and Diagnostics

Subfield: Nuclear and High Energy Physics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funders: U.S. Department of Energy, University of Rochester, National Nuclear Security Administration