Modeling and Simulation of Inertial Confinement Fusion Physics Postdoc

What You Will Do

The Eulerian Codes Group (XCP-2) in the X-Computational Physics (XCP) Division is seeking a postdoctoral candidate in code development and modeling related to plasma physics and Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF). The work will involve contributing to the development of physics packages for the xRAGE code, validating physics models, implementing new capabilities to simulate ICF implosions, performing detailed code comparisons, collaborating with experimentalists and computational scientists, and publishing results.

• Extended magneto hydrodynamics (for pulsed power experiments)
• Synthetic x-ray, neutron, gamma, and/or radiochemistry diagnostics
• Reduced models for laser-plasma interactions and coupling to hot‑electron transport
• Monte Carlo charged particle transport (thermonuclear reaction products)
• Multi-temperature multi-species fluid modeling
• Thermal conduction (non-local and coupling to laser physics and magneto hydrodynamics/MHD)
• Non-local thermodynamic equilibrium (nLTE)
• Plasma transport

• A PhD in Physics, Astrophysics, Applied Mathematics, Engineering, or a related field
• Solid background in numerical methods and modeling HEDP or related systems
• Proficiency in Fortran, C/C++, or Python
• Strong record of publications commensurate with experience
• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Ability to obtain a DOE Q Clearance (requires US citizenship)

• Experience with theoretical or computational plasma physics
• Experience with magneto hydrodynamics
• Experience in neutral particle transport and nuclear reactions (nuclear engineering)
• Experience in modeling highly-coupled physics experiments for compressible flows
• Solid background in numerical methods for solving systems of partial differential equations in fluid dynamics or related fields
• Experience with massively parallel numerical development and simulation
• Experience with deploying numerical algorithms to future computing architectures
• Experience with code development relevant to computational physics

A Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics, Physics, Engineering, Computational Science, or a closely related field completed within the past five years or soon to be completed.

Onsite position at Los Alamos, NM. All locations are at the discretion of management.

• PPO or high-deductible medical insurance with a large nationwide network
• Dental and vision insurance
• Basic life and disability insurance
• Paid childbirth and parental leave
• Award-winning 401(k) with 6% matching plus 3.5% annually
• Learning opportunities and tuition assistance
• Flexible schedules and time off (PTO and holidays)
• Onsite gyms and wellness programs
• Extensive relocation packages for locations outside a 50-mile radius

Position requires a Q clearance. Applicants must be U.S. citizens (except in very limited circumstances). Clearance requires a background investigation conducted by or on behalf of the Federal Government.

Los Alamos National Laboratory is an equal opportunity employer. All employment practices are based on qualification and merit, without regard to protected categories such as race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status or spousal affiliation, disability, pregnancy, protected veteran status, genetic information, or citizenship within the limits imposed by federal, state, and local laws and regulations.

The Laboratory is committed to making the workplace accessible to individuals with disabilities and will provide reasonable accommodations upon request.