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Starrett, Charles E.

Publications and source records attributed to Starrett, Charles E..

5 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2025

Roadmap for warm dense matter physics

This roadmap presents the state-of-the-art, current challenges and near future developments anticipated in the thriving field of warm dense matter physics. Originating from strongly coupled plasma physics, high pressure physics and high energy density science, the warm dense matter physics community has recently taken a giant leap forward. This is due to spectacular developments in laser technology, diagnostic capabilities, and computer simulation techniques. Only in the last decade has it become possible to perform accurate enough simulations \& experiments to truly verify theoretical results as well as to reliably design experiments based on predictions. Consequently, this roadmap discusses recent developments and contemporary challenges that are faced by theoretical methods, and experimental techniques needed to create and diagnose warm dense matter. A large part of this roadmap is dedicated to specific warm dense matter systems and applications in astrophysics, inertial confinement fusion and novel material synthesis.

FOS: Physical sciences↗
DOE OSTI2024

Sensitivity of magnetohydrodynamic simulations of Joule-heated conductors to the vaporization curve in equations of state

Magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulations of electrically exploded aluminum and copper rods demonstrate a technique to validate equations of state (EOS) for rapidly Joule-heated conductors. The balance of internal and magnetic forces at the conductor-insulator interface drives the metal there along the vaporization phase boundary. Variations between critical points and vaporization curves in existing models predict differing densities and temperatures in MHD simulations for these models. Here, the inclusion of Maxwell constructs in the liquid-vapor biphase region of the EOS caused the rod surface to vaporize earlier in time than unmodified tables with van der Waals loops. Velocimetry of recent experiments is used to validate the location of the vaporization curve in existing EOS models and differentiate between the vapor dome treatments. Dielectric coatings applied to the metal surface restricted the conductor’s expansion and diverted the metal into the warm dense matter regime.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2014

Predictions of x-ray scattering spectra in warm dense matter

This presentation gives an Introduction to our model of warm dense matter; How x-ray scattering spectra are calculated from it; Comparisons with experiments: Room temperature/pressure beryllium Warm dense beryllium Warm dense aluminum; Predictions for warm dense beryllium and titanium; and, Conclusions.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2013

Modeling X-Ray Thomson Scattering Spectra of Warm Dense Matter

Warm dense matter (WDM) is sometimes described as a \solid density plasma" where neither weakly coupled plasma theory nor condensed matter theory are applicable. More specifically, WDM has densities of ~ 0:1 - 50 times solid density, temperatures of ~ 1 - 100 eV, is partially ionized, globally neutral, has strongly correlated particles (due to interactions), and partial electron degeneracy. In nature, WDM may be found in the interiors of planets such as Jupiter or in the envelopes of white dwarf stars, and in man-made processes such as inertial confinement fusion (ICF), WDM exists as a transient state of matter. To model these physical systems, the equation of state as well as opacity, conductivity, and diffusion coefficients must be known. Experimentally WDM is probed with an experimental technique known as X-Ray Thomson Scattering (XRTS). In such an experiment X-rays photons are scattered off of WDM and the resulting photons are measured at a given solid angle. The resulting spectrum gives information on the density and temperature of WDM, but a model of WDM and the scattering experiment is often required to interpret the results. As a result, these experiments also serve as a method of validation for potential models of WDM. The work presented here focuses on the model of WDM proposed by Starrett and Saumon and a model for scattering based off of Chihara’s work. The model proposed by Starrett and Saumon is an average-atom model that is coupled with a two component plasma model, hereafter referred to as an AA+TCP model. The AA+TCP model is an ab initio model with no free parameters, only requiring knowledge of the element under investigation, the density, and the temperature. The outputs from the model completely determine all the input parameters needed for Chihara’s structure function (chemical potential, elastic feature, screening potential, bound-state wavefunctions, and free wavefunctions), which in turn determines the double differential scattering cross-section of the experiment. This approach to determining the outcome of an XRTS experiment parallels that of Johnson, et al., but expands the work in many respects. For example, the AA+TCP model completely determines all the input parameters to the structure function; hence no ad hoc approximations are necessary to close the system. Also, the free-electron feature and the bound-free feature are modified to include collisions and occupation of free electron states, respectively.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗