An implementation of the average atom model using the thermodynamic consistency condition: Application to AR

Abstract

We present a computational implementation of the average atom model for the calculation of matter properties under different conditions of density and temperature. Different issues related to the practical implementation, particularly those concerning the choice of an energy value acting as a boundary between free and bound electron states are discussed. As a test case, the ionization degree, electron density, and contributions to the potential V (r) are computed for Ar at temperatures ranging from a few eV to some keV, and ionic densities between 1 ×10 19 cm − 3 and 1 × 10 23 cm − 3 . Results of the model are compared with those obtained by means of the Thomas–Fermi model and by other analytical approaches.