An extended hydrodynamics model for inertial confinement fusion hohlraums

Abstract

In some inertial confinement fusion hohlraum designs, the inside plasma is not sufficiently collisional to be satisfactorily described by the Euler equations implemented in hydrodynamic simulation codes, particularly in converging regions of the expanding plasma flow. To better treat that situation, this paper presents an extended hydrodynamics model including higher moments of the particle velocity distribution function, together with physically justified closure assumptions and relaxation terms. A preliminary one-dimensional numerical implementation of the model is shown to give satisfactory results in a test case involving a high-velocity collision of two plasma flows. Paths to extend that model to three dimensions as needed for an actual hohlraum geometry are briefly discussed.