Using tabulated NLTE data for Hohlraum simulations

Non-local thermodyamic equilibrium (NLTE) atomic kinetics is necessary in inertial confinement fusion Hohlraum simulations for adequately modeling high-Z walls and dopants but is computationally very expensive. We present here an approach for tabulating NLTE material data in an economical manner. Material properties for an arbitrary radiation field are provided through tabulated data for a limited set of radiation fields plus derivatives with respect to components of those radiation fields. We have implemented this method in a radiation-hydrodynamics code and compare Hohlraum simulations done with inline NLTE calculations with those done with tables constructed from the same atomic data. The results demonstrate that NLTE tables can replace inline calculations in Hohlraum simulations without a significant loss of accuracy. Published under an exclusive license by AIP Publishing.