Variational Average-Atom in Quantum Plasmas (VAAQP) - first numerical results

TL;DR

This paper introduces a new variational average-atom model for quantum plasmas, demonstrating its feasibility and differences from existing models through numerical results on aluminium in warm dense matter conditions.

Contribution

The paper presents the first numerical implementation of a fully variational average-atom model (VAAQP) for quantum plasmas, showing its advantages over traditional approaches.

Findings

Feasibility of the variational model in warm dense matter

Significant differences from existing models in certain regimes

Numerical results for aluminium at various densities and temperatures

Abstract

The work on a new fully variational model of average-atom in quantum plasmas using a numerical code called VAAQP is reported. A brief description of the code is given. Application to aluminium at solid density and temperatures between 0.05 and 12 eV is presented. Comparisons to results obtained using other approaches are also shown and discussed. The results prove the feasibility of the variational model in the warm dense matter regime. Effects of the variational treatment can lead in this region to significant differences with respect to existing models.