Non-LTE modeling of gold plasmas

We continue our work to explore the feasibility of creating detailed atomic models for application to ICF simulations. By further optimizing our atomi c data codes we are able to create non-LTE models with a level of complexit y approximately one order of magnitude greater (in the number of configurat ions) than previously obtained. We have calculated emissivities for gold wh ich include on the order of 100,000 configurations per temperature-density point, The inclusion of additional configurations has yielded improved resu lts for quantities such as the emissivity, but the question of spectral con vergence is as yet unanswered. Discussion of an effective rate method as a possible way to use these data for in-line, radiation-hydrodynamics modelin g is also provided. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.