Electromagnetic Simulation Software for Strongly Coupled Plasmas

ABSTRACT: Strong coupling in ionized plasmas occurs when inter-particle interactions result in correlation energies that are comparable to the mean kinetic energy of the thermal motion of individual particles. Strongly coupled plasmas are known to be present in a number of physical systems including ultra-cold plasmas created in the laboratory and present in the ionosphere, explosive gases associated with conventional munitions, and extreme conditions associated with high-energy ultrafast laser interactions with matter. The use of the electromagnetic (EM) particle-in-cell methodology (PIC) for modeling strongly coupled plasmas is an accurate model when the inter-ion spacing is resolved. The EM PIC approach offers features that complement existing models of strongly coupled plasmas and should give computational speeds comparable to or greater than other computational methods. A framework for integrating newly developed advanced algorithms into a simulation code capable of addressing plasma physics research topics that are not treatable with currently available simulation codes. Under a Phase II award, a complete computer code deployable on conventional parallel computer systems will be developed and validated against theoretical models. BENEFIT: Non-equilibrium plasmas are playing an increasingly important role in a number of Air Force high technology situations and strongly coupled plasma conditions occur in many of these technologies. For example, creation and evolution of non-equilibrium plasmas and the management of energy flow in high energy density situations (such as directed energy weapons) is integral to Air Force programs. Large-scale numerical simulation codes are required for the laser and high power microwave analysis of non-equilibrium coupled plasmas. However, the analysis of strongly coupled classical plasmas in the electromagnetic regime is currently limited to idealized equilibrium models. The software developed under this Phase II effort represents a significant new technique to analyze coupled plasma conditions, synergistic with Air Force technology programs. Potential commercial applications for this simulation tool include university research groups, various high-technology industries supporting Air Force research and development programs, as well as DoD and DoE research institutions. Applications for this simulation tool are wide ranging and include plasma reactor modeling, extreme states of matter, ionospheric communications, and quantum computing research.