Modeling and Simulation of Inertial Confinement Fusion Physics Postdoc

The Eulerian Codes Group (XCP-2) in the X-Computational Physics (XCP) Division is seeking an outstanding candidate for a postdoctoral position in code development and modeling related to plasma physics and Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF). This work will involve contributing to the development of one or more physics packages relevant to inertial confinement fusion (ICF) modeling as well as utilizing novel capabilities to simulate ICF implosions.

XCP-2 supports and develops the xRAGE Radiation-Hydrodynamics Eulerian Adaptive Mesh Refinement (AMR) code, which is widely used to perform simulations of ICF and High Energy Density Physics (HEDP) experiments. The candidate will assist in the development of physics models in the xRAGE code. The position will also involve validation of physics models and their implementation in the xRAGE code as applied to the simulation of ICF and HEDP experiments, as well as performing detailed code comparisons.

The successful candidate is expected to work in a team environment with experimentalists and computational scientists, implement models and methods in xRAGE, and publish results.

Specific models may include:

• 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

Minimum

Job Requirements:

• A PhD in Physics, Astrophysics, Applied Mathematics, Engineering, or 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, which typically 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.

The work location for this position is onsite and located in Los Alamos, NM. All work locations are at the discretion of management.

Applicants should submit a CV/Resume and cover letter. The cover letter should be composed of a one-page career narrative followed by a bulleted list of the applicant's relevant experience for each requirement.

Brian Haines (bmhaines)

Candidates may be considered for a Director's Fellowship and outstanding candidates may be considered for the prestigious Marie Curie, Richard P. Feynman, J. Robert Oppenheimer, or Frederick Reines Fellowships.

For general information about the LANL Postdoc Program, go to http://www.lanl.gov/careers/career-options/postdoctoral-research/index.php

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