Population Kinetics for Particle in Cell Simulations


Population Kinetics for Particle in Cell Simulations

Marre, B. E.; Hübl, A.; Bastrakov, S.; Bussmann, M.; Widera, R.; Schramm, U.; Cowan, T.; Kluge, T.

Population Kinetics for PIC

Standard atomic physics models in PIC simulation either neglect excited states, predict
atomic state population in post processing only, or assume quasi-thermal plasma conditions.

This is no longer sufficient for high-intensity short-pulse laser generated plasmas, due
to their non-equilibrium, transient and non-thermal plasma conditions, which are now becoming
accessible in XFEL experiments at HIBEF (EuropeanXFEL), SACLA (Japan) or at MEC (LCLS/SLAC).
To remedy this, we have developed a new extension for our ParticleInCell simulation
framework PIConGPU to allow us to model atomic population kinetics in situ in PIC-Simulations,
in transient plasmas and without assuming temperatures.
This extension is based on a reduced atomic state model, which is directly coupled to the
existing PIC-simulation and for which the atomic rate equation is solved explicitly in
time, depending on local interaction spectra and with feedback to the host simulation.
This allows us to model de-/excitation and ionization and of ions in transient plasma
conditions, as typically encountered in laser generated plasmas.
This new approach to atomic physics modeling will be very useful in plasma
emission prediction, plasma condition probing with XFELs and better understanding
of isochoric heating processes, since all of these rely on an accurate prediction of
atomic state populations inside transient plasmas.

Keywords: Atomic Population Kinetics; FLYonPIC; PIConGPU; PIC; Particle in Cell; Simulation; Atomic Physics

  • Lecture (Conference)
    Radiation Properties of Hot Dense Matter, 14.-18.11.2022, Santa Fe, New Mexico, United States of America

Permalink: https://www.hzdr.de/publications/Publ-35539
Publ.-Id: 35539